Anatolia
Organizes Anatolia into its key internal regions, neighboring landforms and nations, principal routes, and contextual geographic and cultural layers.
Internal
Divides Anatolia into its major internal regions and sectors to understand its broad geographic and cultural zones.
Pontic Coast
The northern Black Sea shoreline of Anatolia, characterized by lush hills and rain-driven forests. Key cities include Trabzon and Samsun.
Caucasus Mountains
A rugged highland barrier marking northern Anatolia’s limit and defining part of the regional climate and biodiversity boundary.
Ege Mediterranean
The southwestern basin of Anatolia, famed for its sunny climate, olive groves, and classical ruins from Izmir to Bodrum.
Marmara Basin
Low-lying central Anatolia centered on the ___Marmara___ Sea, linking Istanbul to the Dardanelles and facilitating transit and cultural exchange.
Bordering
Lists the must-know landforms and nations that share or define Anatolia’s borders.
Balkans
The Balkan peninsula and its islands and associated regions influence northwestern Anatolia’s history, languages, and cultures.
Caucasus Region
The diverse lands of the ___Caucasus__, from Georgia to Dagestan_, shape northeastern Anatolia’s highlands and corridors.
Aegean Islands
The islands of the ___Aegean__—from Lesbos to Chios_—are closely linked to the mainland’s maritime traditions and ancient civilizations.
Black Sea Coastal Greece
Narrow coastal strips and cultural ties from northern Greece to the Bulgarian border influence the Black Sea-facing region of northwestern Anatolia.
Routes
Highlights the major land and sea routes that have historically connected and continue to link Anatolia.
Danube-Mediterranean Route
A historic trans-European corridor linking the Danube basin through the Balkans to the Aegean and Levant; critical for migration, trade, and armies.
Silk Road
The ancient Silk Road segments that pass through Anatolia facilitated centuries of cultural exchange and the movement of goods from China to the Mediterranean.
Aegean and Adriatic Seaways
The Aegean and Adriatic maritime routes link islands and coastal cities, shaping regional trade, travel, and naval history.