Anatolische

Anatolische is a German adjective meaning Anatolian, used to describe things related to Anatolia, the historic region that comprises most of present-day Turkey. The term is encountered in geography, history, archaeology, linguistics and cultural studies. In English-language contexts the corresponding term is Anatolian.

Geography and scope: Anatolia, also called Asia Minor, is a large peninsula bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean and Marmara to the northwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Armenian Highlands to the southeast. The name Anatolia derives from Greek Anatolía, meaning the east or sunrise lands, reflecting its position east of the Aegean world.

History and archaeology: Anatolia has been a crossroads of civilizations. In the Bronze Age the Hittite Empire emerged in central Anatolia, with later developments by Phrygians, Lydians, Lycians, Carians and other peoples along the coast and inland. The region subsequently became part of successive empires, including the Achaemenid Persian, Hellenistic kingdoms, the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and the Ottoman Empire. This long history has produced a rich archaeological and architectural record, ranging from monumental temple complexes to early urban planning and inscriptions.

Linguistics: Anatolian languages form a distinct branch of the Indo-European language family. They are among the earliest attested IE languages and include Hittite, Luwian, Lycian, Lydian and Carian, among others. Most Anatolian languages are extinct, with attestations concentrated in the second millennium BCE and continued use into late antiquity for some varieties.

See also: Anatolia, Asia Minor, Indo-European languages.