History
- Konya is one of the oldest settlements of Anatolia. Konya’s history goes back to prehistoric ages. It is understood with the researches that settlement was established in Konya in the years of 6000-5000 BC.
- In ancient times, the city used to be named as “Iconium”.
- Çatalhöyük, which is the oldest and most advanced Neolithic era settlement found so far, is in the borders of Konya. In July 2012, Çatalhöyük was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Throughout the history, it was under control of the Hittites, Phrygians, Roman and Byzantines Empires, Seljuk and Anatolian Seljuk States. At the end Ottoman Empire ruled Konya.
- Konya was conquered by Suleyman Shah, the ruler of the Seljuk Empire. After the foundation of Anatolian Seljuk State, Konya came under the hegemony of this state.
- At the year 1074, Anatolian Seljuk Empire is established and İznik which is capital city of Anatolian Seljuk, at the end of first Crusade the capital city of this empire is moved to Konya. After being capital, Konya is developed day by day and decorated by very much architectural work, in short time is becomed one of the most developed city.
- The city being the capital of Anatolian Seljuk State for long years, entered the rule of Karamanids (Karamanoğulları Beyliği) in 1277 and then entered the Ottoman rule with Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s putting an end to Karamanid Dynasty.
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet constituted Karaman State as 4th State at 1470, Konya is executed the center of this state. At 17th century Karaman state’s border is enlarged, by the change of name takes new name which is Konya State at Tanzimat Reform Era.
- During the Ottoman Empire, the tomb of Hz. Mevlana restored in the period of Yavuz Sultan Selim (Selim I). Also during the time of Selim II, various investments were made in Konya. During the time of Abdulhamit II, railway connection was established. Especially, in 1901, with the assignment of Ferit Pasha as the governor, the development of the city was accelerated.
- After the 1st World War, some parts of the city were invaded by Italy for a very short period of time. Apart from it was not exposed to any other occupation of a foreign country.
- Having a developed trade sector since the old periods due to its geographical location, Konya was the scene of intense commercial activity during Seljuk and Ottoman periods as well, by being on the route of caravans which was known as silk road.
- Today, with its surface area of 40.813,52 km² (15.758,1 sq mi) and its population of over 2 million, Konya is one of the important cities of Turkish Republic.
- In 1989, Konya became a metropolitan municipality. Selçuklu, Meram and Karatay are central districts of Konya and Konya continues its development with these districts.
