ANATOLIA (Gr. Anatole, the east, i.e., from Constantinople) is the modern name for Asia Minor; Turkish, Anadoli. It may be considered as coincident with the peninsula ; the boundary line on the e. between it and Armenia and Mesopotamia, not being natu ral, cannot be well defined. The area of the peninsula exceeds 200,000 square mile. It constitutes the western prolongation of the high tableland of Armenia. with its lore( r mountain-ranges. The interior consists of a great plateau, or rather series of plate:I i,s, rising in gradation from 2400 to 5000 ft., with bare steppes, salt plains, marshes, and lakes; the structure is volcanic, and there are several conical mountains, one of which, the Agridagh (Argoeus), with two craters, rises 10,000 ft. above the plain of Kaisarijeh, which has itself an elevation of between 2000 and 3000 ft. The plateau is bordered on the n. by a long train of parallel mountains, varying from 4000 to 6000 ft. high, and cut up into groups by cross valleys. These mountains sink abruptly down on the n. side to a narrow strip of coast; their slopes towards the interior are gentler and bare of wood. Similar is the character of the border ranges on the s., the ancient Taurus, only that they are more continuous and higher, being, to the n. of the bay of Skanderun or Issus, 10,000 to 12,000 ft., and further to the w., 8000 to 9000 feet. The w. border is inter sected by numerous valleys, opening upon the archipelago, through the highlands of the ancient Caria, Lydia, and Mysia, to the northern part of which mounts Ida and Olym pus belong. Between the highlands and the sea lie the fertile coast-lands of the Levant. The rivers of A. are not considerable; the largest are the Yeshil Irmak (Iris), the Kisil Irmak (Halt's), and the Sakkariah (Sangarius), flowing into the Black sea; and the Sara bat (Hermus) and Minder (Meander) into the Egean.
The climate wears on the whole a south-European character; but a distinction must be made of four regions. The central plateau, nearly destitute of wood and water, has a hot climate in summer, and a cold in winter; the s. coast has mild winters and scorching summers; while on the coast of the .Egean there is the mildest of climates and a mag nificent vegetation. On the n. side, the climate is not so mild, nor the productions of so tropical a kind as on the w. ; yet the vegetation is most luxuriant, and a more delightful or richer tract than the coast from the sea of Marmora 'to Trebizond, is hardly to be found. The whole peninsula, however, is liable to earthquakes.
In point of natural history, A. forms the transition from the continental character of the east to the maritime character of the west. The forest-trees and cultivated plants of Europe are seen mingled with the forms peculiar to the east. The central plateau, which is barren, except where there are means of irrigation, has the character of an Asiatic steppe, more adapted for the flocks and herds of nomadic tribes than for agriculture; while the coasts, rich in all European products, fine fruits, olives, wine, and silk, have quite the character of the s. of Europe, which on the warmer and drier s. coast shades
into that of Africa.
The inhabitants consist of the most various races. The dominant race are the Osmanli Turks, who number about 1,200,000, and are spread over the whole country; next to these come the Turkomans, belonging to the same stock, and speaking a dialect of the same language. These are found chiefly on the tableland, leading a nomadic life; there also live hordes of nomadic Kurds. Among the mountains e. of Trebizond are the robber tribes of the Lazes. The population of the towns, in addition to Turks, consists, in the w., chiefly of Greeks and Jews; and in the e., of Armenians; the non-Turkish popula tion, along with Europeans in the maritime marts, have the whole commerce of the coun try in their hands. The whole population of the peninsula is supposed not to exceed 5,000,000; the latest official census available made it 10,907,000, including Armenia; but this is thought to be much overestimated. The political and social arrangements are much as in the rest of Turkey (q.v.). One peculiarity is the old Turkish system of vas sal-dynasties, the Dere-begs (valley chiefs), who, like the feudal lords of the middle ages in Europe, are hereditary rulers and military commanders of their district, under the suzerainty of the sultan. This institution is in greatest force in the n.e. of the peninsula. The power of these feudal chiefs, however, was broken by Sultan Mahmud.
The whole country is divided at present into eight eyalets or governments, under gover nors-general, and each of these again, into several sandjaks, or provinces, under lieutenant governors. The eyalets are: 1. khudavendkiar, in the n.w., including ancient Mysia, the w. part of Bithynia, and part of Phrygia; chief t. Brussa: 2. Kastamuni, occupying the middle of the n. coast, including ancient Paphlagonia, the e. of Bithynia, and part of Pontus; chief t., Kastamuni: 3. Tarabosan or Trabezun (Trebizond), the ancient Pontus and Colchis; capital, Trebizond: 4. Aydin, in the s.w., the ancient Lydia, caria, and Phrygia; capital, Ismir or Smyrna: 5. Konia, formerly Karamauia, eastward from Aydin, the ancient Lydia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, and part of Cilicia; chief t., Konieh (lconium): 6. Adana, comprehending the rest of Cilicia, Kataonia, and part of Cappadocia; chief t., Adana: 7. Angora, the central part of the peninsula, ancient Cappadocia and Galatia; chief t., Enguri or Angora: 8. Sivas, e. from Angora, embracing parts of Pontus and little Armenia; chief t., Sivas.