Diyarbakir history

Diyarbakir is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a history stretching back thousands of years. Located on the fertile banks of the Tigris River, it has witnessed the rise and fall of great civilizations, each leaving its mark on the city's rich cultural heritage.

Foundation and First Mentions

The first settlements on the site of modern Diyarbakir, in the area of the Amida Mound, date back to the late Neolithic era, approximately 6100 BC. In written sources, the city first appears under the name Amida in Assyrian documents from the 13th century BC. For centuries, it was the capital of the Aramean kingdom of Bit-Zamani, and later part of the Urartu and Assyrian states. In 77 BC, the Armenian King Tigranes II rebuilt the city, naming it Tigranakert. Later, under the rule of the Roman Empire, the city, once again known as Amida, was significantly fortified. The city received its modern name—Diyarbakir—after the Arab conquest in the 7th century from the Bakr tribe, meaning "Land of the Bakr Tribe."

Key Development Factors

Several key factors contributed to the city's development:

• Strategic Location: Its position on the high banks of the Tigris River made the city a natural fortress and an important military outpost on the borders of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.
• Trade Routes: Diyarbakir was a vital hub on the Great Silk Road and other trade routes connecting Mesopotamia with Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Numerous caravanserais bear witness to its former commercial significance.
• Fertile Lands: The Tigris valley surrounding the city, including the famous Hevsel Gardens, has provided food for inhabitants for millennia.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Since ancient times, Diyarbakir has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, and languages. It was one of the centers for the formation of Syriac script and culture. The city's architecture reflects this diversity: for example, in the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), one of the oldest in Anatolia, Islamic elements are combined with columns taken from ancient Roman structures. The city's economy relied on agriculture and bustling trade, including crafts such as copper working and carpet production.

Key Dates in the History of Diyarbakir

The history of Diyarbakir is a kaleidoscope of eras and civilizations. Known in antiquity as Amida, the city witnessed the rule of numerous empires, each leaving its mark on its architecture and culture. Below is a brief timeline of the most important events that shaped the face of modern Diyarbakir.

Antiquity and Early Middle Ages

• 13th Century BC — The city, under the name Amida, is first mentioned in Assyrian chronicles as the capital of the Aramean kingdom of Bit-Zamani.
• 77 BC — Armenian King Tigranes II the Great rebuilds the city, which becomes one of the capitals of Greater Armenia under the name Tigranakert.
• Mid-4th Century AD — By order of the Roman Emperor Constantius II, massive black basalt walls are erected around the city, which have survived to this day.
• 359 AD — After a 73-day siege, the city is captured by the troops of the Persian Shah Shapur II of the Sassanid dynasty.
• 639 AD — The city is conquered by the Arab tribe of Bakr, after which it gradually acquires the name Diyar Bakr ("Land of the Bakr Tribe").

From the Seljuks to the Ottoman Empire

• 1065 — Construction of the famous Ten-Eyed Bridge (Dicle Bridge) across the Tigris River is completed during the reign of the Marwanid dynasty.
• 1091 — Seljuk Sultan Malik-Shah I conducts a major reconstruction of the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), one of the oldest in Anatolia.
• End of the 14th Century — Diyarbakir becomes the capital of the powerful Turkic confederation Aq Qoyunlu.
• 1515 — The city becomes part of the Ottoman Empire and serves as an important administrative and military center on the eastern frontiers.

Modern and Contemporary Era

• 1923 — Following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Diyarbakir officially becomes part of the Republic of Turkey.
• 1937 — During a visit by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the modern name Diyarbakir is solidified, translating as "Copper Land."
• 2015 — The Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stages of Development: From Ancient Fortress to Cultural Center

The history of Diyarbakir is a continuous chain of transformations that turned an ancient settlement into one of the most important cities of Upper Mesopotamia. Key milestones in its development reflect the economic, cultural, and urban changes that shaped the modern appearance of the city.

• Roman Military Outpost (4th Century): By order of Emperor Constantius II, massive walls of black basalt were erected around the city, then known as Amida. This turned it into one of the most heavily defended fortresses on the eastern borders of the Roman Empire and defined its urban structure for centuries.
• Trade Hub on the Silk Road: Beginning in the early Middle Ages, Diyarbakir became a key center on trade routes connecting Persia and Mesopotamia with Anatolia. The construction of numerous caravanserais, such as the magnificent Hasan Pasha Han, testifies to its thriving economy and status as a major commercial hub.
• Flourishing under the Marwanid and Artuqid Dynasties (11th–12th Centuries): During this period, the city experienced a cultural and architectural revival. A large-scale reconstruction of the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), one of the oldest in Anatolia, was carried out, and the famous Ten-Arched Bridge was built across the Tigris River. These structures remain symbols of the city to this day.
• Capital of the Aq Qoyunlu Confederation (14th–15th Centuries): Becoming the capital of a powerful Turkic state, Diyarbakir strengthened its political and administrative importance in the region, which contributed to further growth and prosperity.
• Important Center of the Ottoman Empire (from the 16th Century): After joining the Ottoman Empire in 1515, the city became the center of a large province (eyalet) and a strategic military point on the eastern borders. This status maintained its economic and administrative significance for centuries.
• Integration into the Republic of Turkey (20th Century): In 1937, the city officially received its modern name—Diyarbakir—which translates as "Copper Land," reflecting the importance of traditional crafts such as copper working. This period marked the beginning of modern urbanization and the expansion of the city beyond the ancient walls.
• UNESCO Recognition (2015): The inclusion of the Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape in the UNESCO World Heritage List was a major event for the city. This confirmed its outstanding universal value and gave a powerful impulse to the development of cultural tourism.

The architectural appearance of Diyarbakir is a unique layering of eras, where every civilization has left its mark. Unlike cities with classical European layouts, styles born at the intersection of Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Kurdish, and Ottoman cultures dominate here. The primary building material throughout the centuries has been local black basalt, giving the city a strict and monumental look.

Roman and Byzantine Eras: Functional Power

The main legacy of this period is the grandiose City Walls, built in the 4th century under the Roman Emperor Constantius II. This is an outstanding example of military architecture, stretching for nearly 6 kilometers. The walls and 82 towers, adorned with reliefs and inscriptions, demonstrate a utilitarian rather than decorative approach: their main task was defense. Architecture here is subordinate to function, creating the image of an impregnable fortress.

Islamic Architecture: From Seljuks to Ottomans

This period gifted the city its most recognizable religious and civil structures. Styles succeeded one another here, reflecting the tastes of ruling dynasties.

• Seljuk Period and Artuqid Era (11th-13th Centuries): The brightest example is the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), one of the oldest in Anatolia. Its architecture is eclectic: it was rebuilt from a Christian basilica, and its appearance harmoniously combines antique Corinthian columns, a Damascus plan with a courtyard, and rich decoration characteristic of Seljuk art. The famous Ten-Arched Bridge (Dicle Bridge), a masterpiece of engineering of its time, was also erected during this period.
• Ottoman Period (16th-19th Centuries): With the arrival of the Ottomans, classical buildings in the imperial style appeared in the city. A landmark object is the Hasan Pasha Han (Hasan Paşa Hanı) caravanserai, built in the 16th century. Its monumental courtyard with colonnades and symmetrical layout are characteristic features of Ottoman civil architecture. Numerous mosques were also erected, such as the Behram Pasha Mosque and Fatih Pasha Mosque, with their recognizable domes and slender minarets.

Traditional Urban Development and Modernity

Within the fortress walls, examples of Diyarbakir's traditional residential architecture have been preserved. These are two-story basalt houses with flat roofs and a mandatory inner courtyard, which served as the center of family life and provided relief from the summer heat. The narrow, winding streets of the old city are also an integral part of its historical urban planning heritage.

Modern Diyarbakir is actively developing beyond the ancient walls. The new districts represent typical modern Turkish urban development, which contrasts with the historical core listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Distinguished Personalities Linked to Diyarbakir

Throughout its centuries-old history, Diyarbakir (ancient Amida) has been the birthplace and center of activity for many prominent scholars, poets, and thinkers. These individuals left a significant mark on the culture and science not only of their region but of the entire world.

Figures of Various Eras

• Aëtius of Amida (502–575 AD) — A Byzantine physician and author of medical works. He was born in Amida and studied at the famous medical school of Alexandria. Aëtius served as a court physician in Constantinople and created a medical encyclopedia of sixteen books, in which he compiled the knowledge of ancient and contemporary physicians. His works enjoyed great authority up until the Renaissance.
• Al-Jazari (Full name: Badi al-Zaman Abu al-Izz ibn Ismail ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari, 1136–1206 AD) — An outstanding Arab scholar, inventor, and engineer. He served at the court of the Artuqid dynasty in Diyarbakir for over 25 years. His famous treatise, "The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices," contains descriptions of dozens of automata, water clocks, and other mechanisms, many of which were created and operated in the Artuqid palace.
• Ziya Gökalp (1876–1924) — A Turkish sociologist, writer, and poet, considered one of the main ideologues of Turkish nationalism. He was born in Diyarbakir, where his house museum is now located. Through his works, Gökalp had a tremendous influence on the formation of the ideology of the Republic of Turkey, attempting to synthesize Turkic culture, Islam, and European civilization.
• Süleyman Nazif (1870–1927) — An influential Turkish poet, writer, and statesman of the Ottoman era. Born in Diyarbakir into a prominent family; his father was a historian, and his brother was also a famous poet. Nazif was known for his patriotic works and active political stance, for which he was persecuted and exiled to Malta.
• Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı (1910–1956) — One of the most famous poets of the Republic of Turkey. He was born in Diyarbakir into an ancient and influential family. His house in the historic city center has been turned into a museum. Tarancı's poetry, especially his famous poem "Thirty-Five Years," is dedicated to themes of the joy of life, loneliness, and the inevitability of death, and is distinguished by the purity of language and simplicity of style.
• Ahmed Arif (1927–1991) — An outstanding Turkish poet of Kurdish origin, whose work had a major influence on 20th-century Turkish literature. Although he was not born in the city itself but in its vicinity, his childhood and youth were spent in Diyarbakir. His only lifetime collection of poems, "Fetters Worn Out by Longing" (1968), became one of the most published in Turkey. Arif's poetry, permeated with images and motifs of Anatolian folk culture, is dedicated to love, the struggle for justice, and human dignity.