Before it was known as Turkey, the region was part of several ancient civilizations and empires. The area has a rich history, having been called Anatolia or Asia Minor in ancient times. The term ‘Anatolia’ derives from the Greek word ‘Anatolē,’ meaning ‘east’ or ‘orient,’ which was used to refer to the land lying east of Greece. Throughout history, different regions within modern Turkey had various names depending on the culture and empire in control, including the Hittite, Phrygian, and Byzantine empires.
During the Seljuk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire, the region gradually became known by names associated with these ruling powers. The name ‘Turkey’ is derived from the medieval Latin name ‘Turchia,’ which referred to the land of the Turks. This term became widely adopted after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, marking a new era in the nation’s identity.