The Political and Historical Geography of Antalya in the Period of The Anatolian Seljuk State

The establishment of the civilisations has been affected by the political, social, geographical and economic factors. Political, social and economic lives of humans have been shaped by the conditions of the geographical location in which human communities coexist. After examining the history of civilisations in Türkiye; it will be understood that the provided advantages from the geographical conditions of the area hold a significant place in making the country the oldest settlement in the world. Rich in both underground and surface sources, Türkiye is an important peninsula surrounded by three seas. The emergence of political formations have been affected by the existence of natural physical conditions affecting humans' lives. Throughout its history, the Mediterranean, which is located on the south of Türkiye, has been the host of many political formations due to its geopolitical importance. Being one of these important political formations, the Anatolian Seljuk State holds a significant place in the process of Turkification and Islamisation of Anatolia by means of the activities in political, social, economic and cultural extents accomplished by utilising the geographical conditions within their domain. Thanks to the administrative, social and economic structuring by the Seljuks in the city after its conquest, Antalya has gained an important position in the international arena in the Mediterranean. Antalya has acquired a unique and characteristic structure with the blend of Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk cultures. In order to fully acknowledge the historical geography of Antalya, examining and evaluating the political, economic and socio-cultural reflections of this unique city present a great importance.