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Historic Roads of Asia Minor and Greenway Potential for Ankara

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/fabos.607

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

Roads of the ancient era universally present valuable cultural and geographical assets on their courses. The routes of historic roads are generally determined by means of connecting settlements and important locations while providing safe, fast, and easy access through challenging geographies. Lush valleys and waterways with provision of food and water, scenic ridgelines, passageways through mountain ranges, and in some cases straight shortcuts in open plains are the usual access paths connecting cultural and economic terminal points. Critical geomorphologic, climatologic, and environmental factors play important role in determining the courses. Year round accessibility in climate dependent harsh conditions and anthropocentric threats are the main causes of safety concerns on the roads. As well as determining a sound course, the roads were developed with various facilities for safety and comfort. While historic roads are found as a single lane they often form a network of alternating routes when connecting people and cultures over the continents. The Silk Road, Persian King Road, Hadrian’s Road, and old Native American trails are only a few of the many examples. These threads of civilizations provide access to new lands, new resources and other human experience. Practically, the roads were essential means of interaction for the peoples of different geographies. Although not always paved, roads were developed with vital amenities and safe haven structures by the authorities and governing bodies. The vast examples of historic roads of the world are the heritage of global culture. With the rich natural, geographic and cultural assets they possess on their courses, historic roads present new development opportunities providing excellent match with the principles of Greenway Planning ideology. This study aims to explore characteristic elements of historic, cultural and economic resources of the Metropolitan Ankara region for Greenway potential. Although a modern city, Ankara is situated at a critical hub of the networks of the historic roads of Anatolia.

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