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In the 10th
century BC "12 Ionian Cities "-Samos, Khios, Miletos,
Priene, Ephesus, Teos, Erythrai, Priena, Klazonemi, Lebedos, Phokaia,
Colophon, Smyrna, were established and were the most developed
cities of the era. The annual meeting place for the Ionian League,
Panionian, was founded around Kusadasi, and the the cities of
Phygale, Marathesion and Neopolis were established within the
borders. During that period, the ports of Phygale and Neopolis
were not important, as they were close to the famous trading centers
and ports of Miletos and Ephesus.
Kusadasi was
invaded by the Persians around the year 546BC. In 200BC Kusadasi
and the surrounding area were dominated by the Roman Empire, and
with the division of the Roman Empire, became a state of Byzantine.
Changes in climate caused serious earthquakes and changed the
route of the Caystros River, Ephesus was mostly destroyed and
lost its importance and prosperity. The result forced the Byzantines
to search for a new port and road that would be suitable for trading.
The area around Neopolis was found convenient by the Greek, Jewish,
and Armenian merchants as a port , to replace the port of Ephesus.
"Scala Nova" was the name of the new port and added
a new trading center to the historical cities of Ania, Melia,
Phygale and Neopolis, that created the early foundations of today's
Kusadasi. By the 15th century, "Scala Nova" was under
the domination of the Venetian and Genoese sailors and traders,
who established consulates there.
The Turkish domination of the area started when it was invaded
by Seljukian Kilic Arslan the 2nd. The location of Kusadasi at
the end of important trade roads, such as Silk Road -once held
by Ephesus, helped to develop the city into a major trading center.Kusadasi
was ruled by the Ottoman Empire after the invasion by the Sultan
Mehmet Celebi in the year 1413. During the reign of the Ottomans,
Kusadasi was given a new look, with the building of Okuz Mehmet
Pasa Caravanserai, the first Ottoman architecture in the city(
built by the man of the same name), who was the vizier during
the reigns of Sultan Ahmet1 and Osman2. The fortress gates, walls
and many mosques in the center of Kusadasi, as well as the castle
on Pigeon Island, were built in the Ottoman period, reflecting
the architectural style of the era. "Kusadasi " means
"bird island", and took its name from the pigeon island
After the First World War, Kusadasi was invaded by the Greeks
(1919). The city won a long struggle for independence in 1922
and became a part of Turkish Republic. Izmir was the capital of
Kusadasi until 1954, and then the capital was moved to Aydin.
The city of Kusadasi has shown a great deal of development, especially
in tourism.
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