Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 01.djvu/593

ANATOLIA. It constitutes the western prolongation of the high table-land of Armenia, with its border mountain ranges. The interior consists of a great plateau, or rather series of plateaus, having an average elevation of about .3000 feet, with bare steppes, salt plains, marshes, and lakes; the structure is volcanic, and there are several conical mountains, one of which, the Argish (or Ergish) Dagh (Argaeus), with two craters, rises about 10,000 feet above the plain of Kaisariyeh, which has itself an elevation of between 2000 and 3000 feet. The plateau is liordered on the north by a long train of parallel mountains, which skirt the coast of the Black Sea, and extend all the way to the Mediterranean, and which are cut up into groups by cross valleys. These ranges vary greatly in height, the greatest elevation in the extreme east being about 12,000 feet. They sink abruptly down on the north side to a narrow strip of coast; their slopes toward the interior are gentler and bare of wood. Similar is the character of the border ranges on the south, the ancient Taurus, onl}' that they are more uniform and on the average much higher, although their loftiest summits do not rise above the highest I)eak of the Jiorthern mountains. The western border is intersected by numerous valleys, open- ing upon the Archipelago, through the highlands of the ancient Caria, Lydia, and Jlysia. to the northern part of which mounts Ida and Olympus belong. I5etwcen the highlands and the sea lie the fertile coast lands of the Levant. The west- ern coast of Anatolia is remarkably indented and fringed with the islands of the Archipelago. The rivers of Anatolia are not navigable: the largest are the Yeshil-Irmak (Iris), the Kizil- Trmnk (Halys), and the Sakariah (Sangarius). flowing into the Black Sea; and the Ghediz-Tchai (Hermus). and Alenderes (JIa>ander), into the Ægean. The largest of the salt lakes are Tuz- Tchollii, Bei-Shehr, and Egerdir.

The climate bears on the whole a south Euro- pean character; but a distinction must be made of four regions. The central plateau, nearly destitute of wood and water, has a hot climate in siunnier and a cold one in winter; the southern coast has mild winters and scorching sununers; while on the coast of the ^Egean there is the mildest of climates and a magnificent vegeta- tion. On the northern side the climate is not so mild as on the western; yet the vegetation is most luxuriant, and a more delightful or richer tract than the coast from the Sea of Marmora to Trebizond is hardly to he found. The whole peninsula is subject to earthquakes.

In its flora and fauna. Anatolia forms the transition from the continental character of the East to the maritime character of the West. The forest trees and cultivated plants of Europe are seen mingled with the forms peculiar to the East. The central plateau, which is barren, except when assisted by ii'rigation, has the character of an .Asiatic steppe, more adapted for the flocks and herds of nomadic tribes than for agricul- ture: the southern and western coasts, on the contrary, are characterized b_v a luxuriant veg- etation, which includes the southern fruits of Europe with a slight admixture of the tropical plants of Africa.

The minerals of Anatolia are of considerable variety, including coal, lead, manganese, copper, meerschaum, and a few others. Salt and petro- leum also exist, but are not ex])orted to any extent. The agricultural products include the common grains, fruits in great variety and abundance, tobacco, cotton, and poppy-seed. Much silk is produced. Among the exports are prunes, figs, olives, jjoultry, eggs, skins, cattle, carpets, silk, gums, wax, and minerals. Trans- portation facilities are still inadequate, and the railroads have a total length of about 1300 miles. The population of Anatolia, according to recent estimates, is over 9,000,000, composed of a number of different races. The Turks are found all over the country, in which they occupy the foremost position, both in commercial and in political life. The Turkomans, who are akin to the Turks, are mostly nomadic. The Greeks and Armenians constitute a considerable fraction of the population, and commerce is to a great extent in their hands. Among other elements in the population are Kurds, Yuruks, Lazes, Jews, Circassians, and Bulgarians. It is estimated that about four-fifths of the inhabitants are agri- culturists or herdsmen. Among the cities of Anatolia are Smyrna, Scutari. Brussa, Kaisar- iyeh, Adana, Konieh. Sivas, Manissa (Magne- sia), Aidin, Trebizond, Amasia, Tokat, Angora, Adalia, Ismid, and Kutaieh.

This region was an early seat of civilization. The countiy has passed under the supremacj- of one race after another, and it has been the scene of numerous wars, both in ancient and in modern times. The west coast was early lined with opulent Greek cities, the seats of poetry, learn- ing, and the arts, and great centres of coloniza- tion. In the first half of the sixth century B.C. the kingdom of Lydia, under Croesus, attained the heiglit of its splendor. Croe.sus was con- quered by the Persians, who extended their sway over the whole peninsula. The rule of Macedon succeeded that of Persia. After the disrup- tion of Alexander's empire the Seleucid kings of Syria were dominant in Asia Minor. By the side of the Seleucid realm, various states arose in the peninsula, Pergamon, Bithynia, Cappa- docia, and Pontus. The Romans first carried their arms into Asia Minor at the beginning of the second century B.C., when they vanquished Antiochus the Great of Syria. In the following century Pontus was a mighty realm under Jlitli- ridates the Great, who succumbed to the arms of Pompey. .-fter 39.5 ..n. Asia Minor formed part of the Greek, or Byzantine, Empire. Under the Byzantines, it received the name of Anatolia. In the eleventh century the Seljuks made them- selves masters of the region, where they estab- lished the sultanate of Rum. The close of the thirteenth century witnessed the beginnings of the power of the Ottoman Turks, wdio in the course of the following century established their sway over Asia Minor, which now became a great base whence Mohammedan conquests were carried on in Europe. Since 14.53 the Ottoman Turks have ruled Anatolia from Constantinople. The ancient divisions of this region were Pontus, Paphlagonia. Bithynia. Galatia, Lycaonia. Phrygia, Cilicia, Caria, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Cap- padocia, Mysia, and Lydia.

Consult: Percy. The TJiijMnnds of Axiatic Tiir- Icy (London, 1901); Oberhuminer and /^immei-- er, Durch Syrien und Elciiiasien (Leipzig, 1898); K. Kaunenberg. Eleinnsiens Naturschiit::e (Ber- lin. 1897); J. Bryce, Trans-Caucasia and Ararat (London, 1896);"H. C. Barkley. A Ride Through Asia Minor and Armenia (London, IS9I).

ANAT'OMY. The science that treats of the structure of organic forms; so called from dis-