The city of Ankara, which is the current capital of Turkey, was historically known as Angora and is located in the northwestern part of the country. It is approximately 200 km south of the Black Sea and lies at the confluence of three streams: Hatip Su, Ince Su, and Çubuk Streams. While the exact founding date remains uncertain, archaeological evidence indicates that the area has been inhabited since the Stone Age, with traces of a flourishing Phrygian town dating back to around 2000 BCE.
Ankara was an influential city during the medieval period, especially as part of the Silk Road. The city was conquered by Alexander the Great in 333 BCE and later became a significant capital of the Tectosages tribe. In 25 BCE, it was incorporated into the empire of Rome under the rule of emperor Augustus, subsequently growing into an important provincial boundary town.
In its early history, the city was governed by the Byzantine Empire until it fell to the Seljuk Turks in 1073. After being retaken by Raymond IV of Toulouse in 1101, Ankara became a contested city between the Seljuqs and various Turkish frontier lords, frequently changing hands. Eventually, the Seljuq Empire established control, leading to the city's growth and prosperity.
The city was seized by Orhan Khan of the Ottoman Empire during the 1354 invasion. Orhan ascended to the title of sultan in 1360 AD and ruled until his death in a hunting accident. Ankara was later besieged during the Anatolian campaign of Timur - also known as Tamerlane, and in 1403, it came under Ottoman control once again, solidifying its role as a key commercial and urban hub due to its strategic location along the caravan route to Asia.
In 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk chose Ankara as his headquarters, turning it into the epicenter of resistance against the Ottoman Sultan and Greek forces following World War I. The city officially became the capital of Turkey in 1923. Today, Ankara is the country's second-largest city, home to a population of 5.6 million, with 44% of its residents being under 30 years of age. It is also considered one of the safest cities in Turkey due to its high quality of life. Ankara is the hub of Turkish government institutions, international organizations, foreign embassies, and numerous foreign companies.