Samsun history, About Samsun

Researches, which are made around Samsun, show that first settlements here date back Paleolithic period. It is seen that region is ruled respectively by Hittites in B.C. 1500 years and then Phrygians in B.C. 8th Century. Samsun has also a very important position in the ancient ages because of having a single port and a large hinterland between Sinop and Trabzon in Black sea Region. Samsun city is a colony city, established under the nameof Amisos by Miletians at the beginning of B.C. 7th Century for the first time. Later on, while city, is ruled respectively by Persians, Macedınians and then Pontus in B.C. 300, it is included into Roman lands in B.C. 47. After Roman Empire is divided into two pieces in 395, city remains within boundaries of Eastern Roman Empire and enter under Anatolian Seljuks Empire rule during the period of II. Kılıçaslan in 1185. Howeveri original fortified section of the city remains under the control of Byzantine and Genoesians for about 200 years. After Mongol invasion in 1243, city is ruled by Şlhanlılar. City is included into Ottoman lands during the period of Yıldırım Bayezit just at the end of 14th century. After Timur invasion in 1402, city, which enters under Candaroğulları Beylic rule, is included into Ottoman lands again certianly during the period of Çelebi Mehmet in 1427. Different names such as Aminsos, Amisos, Amisus, Enete, Sampson, Simisso, Sinusso, Peiraeus, Pire, Pompeiopolis are used for the city throughout  the history. Old structures, located in the city, belong to Ilhanlı, Candaroğulları and Ottoman periods. Yalı (Hoca Hayrettin) Mosque, constructed by the order of Sadık bin Abdullah in 1312, Castle Mosque constructed in 1314 for the name of İlhanlı Governor Emir Timurtaş Pasha; Kurşunlu Mosque, constructed by the order of Molla Fahreddin in 1340; Hacı Hatun Mosqe, constructed by the order of Ibrahim, son of Hatice, in 1694; Büyük Mosque (Valide Mosque), constructed by the order of Batumlu Hacı Ali Efendi in 1884; Pazar Mosque, Hançerli Mosque, Sheikh Kudbeddin Mosque and Tomb, Çakıllı Hostelry, Taşhan are other old works, located in the city. Works, belonging to region in chalcolithic, Ancient Bronze, Hittite, Hellenistic, Roman periods and ethnographic works, are exhibited in Archaeological and Ethnography Museum in Samsun. Furthermore, Ataturk Museum and Municipality Gazi Museum are situated in the city.