Aidin

Aidin is the historical and alternative name used in Western sources for the Turkish city and province known today as Aydın, located in the Aegean region of western Turkey. The modern Turkish name Aydın derives from a term meaning “enlightened” or “bright.” In the Ottoman period the area was governed as the Vilayet of Aydın, a designation that appears in many 19th- and early 20th-century maps and documents.

Geographically, the city of Aydın lies inland in the western part of the country, north of the coastal towns along the Aegean Sea. The province encompasses varied terrain, including fertile plains and coastal zones, with districts such as Kuşadası, Söke, Nazilli, Çine, and Yenipazar. The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by hot, dry summers and milder, wetter winters.

Historically, the Aidin region has deep roots stretching back to ancient Greek and Anatolian settlements. It has been part of several large empires, including the Byzantine and Ottoman realms, and developed as an agricultural and trade hub along the Aegean corridor. In the late Ottoman era, the Vilayet of Aydın played a role in regional administration and commerce prior to the establishment of the Turkish Republic.

In the modern era, Aydın Province functions as an administrative unit of Turkey with a diverse economy that blends agriculture—notably figs and various fruits—with industry and tourism. Coastal towns draw visitors to beaches and archaeological and cultural sites, while the region remains integrated with broader transportation networks in western Turkey.