Where was ancient Ionia?

Ancient Ionia today is the west coast of Turkey north and south of Izmir.

Why was Ionia called Ionia?

Ionia took its name from the Ionian Greeks who settled the west coast of Anatolia (Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey). They took their name from Ion, a legendary king of Athens.

What is Ionia famous for?

Ionia is famous for the scientific revolution of the 6th century BCE that launched the Pre-Socratic Philosophers and for the Ionian Revolt of 499-493 BCE which prompted the Persian invasions of Greece in 490 & 480 BCE, considered pivotal to the definition of Western Civilization.

When was Ionia first settled by the Ionian Greeks?

Ionia was first settled by the Ionian Greeks c. 1150 BCE toward the end of the Bronze Age Collapse.

Ionia

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Definition

Ionia was a territory in western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) populated by the Ionians (Greeks who spoke the Ionian dialect) in c. 1150 BCE. It is best known as the birthplace of Greek philosophy (at Miletus) and the site of the Ionian Revolt which prompted the Persian invasion of Greece in 490 and 480 BCE.

More about: Ionia

Timeline

1200 BCE
Ionian migrations into the region around Ephesos.
c. 1025 BCE
Migrants from Ionia settle on Naxos.
546 BCE - 545 BCE
Persian conquest of Ionian Greek city-states.
499 BCE - 493 BCE
Ionian cities rebel against Persian rule.
c. 449 BCE
Ionian cities become independent from Persia under the Peace of Callias.