More languages
More actions
| Lydia | |
|---|---|
| 7th century BCE–546 BCE | |
 Location of Lydia (yellow) | |
| Capital | Sfard |
| Common languages | Lydian |
| Dominant mode of production | Slavery |
| Government | Monarchy |
| History | |
• Established | 7th century BCE |
• Dissolution | 546 BCE |
Lydia was an Iron Age kingdom located in northwestern Anatolia. It was based in the fertile valley of the Hermus, which could be farmed without irrigation. The country also had rich gold and silver mines. It controlled the sea trade between Greece and Asia.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Around 660 BCE, the Lydian king Kukas asked the Assyrian king Aššurbāniapli for support against the invading Cimmerian tribes. They defeated the Cimmerians, and Kukas gave Assyria two captured chieftains as a reward. Kukas later allied with Pesmetjek I of Egypt, who had previously revolted against Assyria. The Assyrians then ended their support for Lydia.[1]
Soon after, Cimmerian forces led by Dugdamiya attacked Lydia and plundered its capital of Sfard between 657 and 654 BCE. Egyptian support never arrived. In 639 BCE, Scythians led by Madava invaded and defeated the Cimmerians. Kukas's successor Ardus restored Lydia's alliance with Assyria and began conquering the Greek cities in Anatolia, and his successor Walwetes continued to fight the Greeks.[1]
Karos, the last Lydian king, conquered all of the Greek cities except Miletos. However, he required Miletos to pay tribute and recognize his authority over Anatolia. The other Greek cities had to pay tribute but could control their own internal affairs. Karos gave much of his wealth to Greek states and donated a 260-kg statue of a lion to Delphi. In exchange, all Lydians were given citizenship in Delphi and were exempted from trade duties. Karos's reign ended in 547 BCE when the Persians invaded.[1]
Economy[edit | edit source]
Lydia created the first coins in history around 640 BCE. They were made of electrum, a gold-silver alloy. The use of coins allowed people to trade without weighing the metal they were using.[1]
Lydian craftsmen were skilled in making objects out of gold and precious stones and dyeing cloth.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Grigory Bongard-Levin, Boris Piotrovsky (1988). Ancient Civilisations of East and West. https://archive.org/details/ancientciveastwest/mode/1up.