Ankara in Roman-Byzantine Period (Political, physical, socio-economic and religious structure)

Although there are some places which witnessed to the settlement from prehistoric period Ankara, it is seen that the first settlement in the city began at the Phrygian period in the ligts of present historical and archaelogical works. The settlement of Phrygian period which was Hacı Bayram Hill based, relocated in Galat time and formed around the casttle, and at the Roman domination the city spread from casttle towards down the plains. Ankara has witnessed to many important political and military events in the historical process from Roman authority until the Turkish conquest. The location of the city and the roads passing through the city is a significant cause of this condition. It seems that Ankara is an important center as administrative from Roman rule to the Turkish domination. Despite the region which ankara was the administrative center, undergone a change over time, the administrative center position of the city continued without interruption. Until the twelfth century, Ankara has been the center of Galatia Province, Galatia Prima Province, Opsicion and Bucallerion Themes. This situation sustained the existence of the local administrators beside province/theme managers in the city. The indications about many building name or buildings which is not existed today at Ankara are avaliable in the sources. People in Roman-Byzantine Ankara socially lived in categories and riches and the nobles of the city assumed the neccesary public affairs. Ankara was quite active in pagan period at ecclesiastical angle. This condition is understood from diversity of prestigious cults and idols and the constructions belonging to this cults. The micro prototypes of evolutions which happened at Roman Empire during the transition period of Paganism to Christianity are seen at Ankara. Records about the presence of Jews in Roman-Byzantine Ankara is also available. After the city's entry into the Turkish domination Islam spread there and in the next period despite the generality of Muslims, they continued to live together with Christians and Jews in the city.