What is the history of Konya and its region?

Konya is a major metropolitan city in central Turkey with a history stretching from ancient times through the Seljuk Empire, when it served as the capital of the Sultanate of Rum. Today, it functions as an important spiritual centre, notably as the home of the Mevlevi Order and its Whirling Dervishes. The surrounding region connects deeply to historical pilgrimage routes and ancient settlements like Çatalhöyük.

What we know

• Konya is a major city in central Turkey located on the southwestern edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau and serves as the capital of Konya Province. [2]
• During ancient history and Seljuk times, Konya was known as Iconium, and in the Late Middle Ages it was the capital of the Seljuk Turks' Sultanate of Rum. [2]
• As of 2024, the population of the Konya Metropolitan Province was 2,330,024, making it the sixth most populous city in Turkey. [2]
• The Konya Archaeological Museum exhibits artifacts from various periods including Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras, including antiquities from Çatalhöyük. [4]

Where to go next

• a case in pointWho are the Whirling Dervishes of Konya?
• how we knowWhat artifacts were found at Çatalhöyük?
• what caused itHow did the Sultanate of Rum govern Anatolia?
• what followedWhat is the route of the Sufi Trail?
• how it workedWhat high-speed rail services connect to Konya?
• an unexpected connectionHow does a modern European long-distance footpath connect to ancient pilgrimage traditions in Turkey?The Sufi Trail links a continental European trail network directly to historical pilgrimage routes passing through Konya toward Jerusalem and Mecca.

Sources

• [1]Konya (Wikidata Q79857) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Konya · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Kallikrateia · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Konya Archaeological Museum · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Sufi Trail · CC BY-SA 4.0