Lydia

Lydia was a state in Anatolia (Middle East) that lasted from c. 680 to 546 BCE, about 134 years. Its people spoke Anatolian languages (Hittite, Luwian, Lydian, Lycian).

Under the Mermnad kings Lydia struck the first known coins, from electrum. Its last king, the famously wealthy Croesus, lost Sardis to Cyrus the Great in 546 BCE.

See Lydia on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 680 to 546 BCE

Duration

134 years

Type

State

Region

Anatolia, Middle East

Language family

Anatolian

Capital

Sardis

Came from

• Phrygia c. 900 to 695 BCE

Became

• Achaemenid Anatolia 546 to 334 BCE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 612 BCE Fall of Nineveh
• 587 BCE Destruction of Jerusalem

Neighbours in Middle East

• Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE
• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE
• Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE
• Greek cities of Asia Minor c. 1050 to 129 BCE
• Phoenician city-states c. 1200 to 332 BCE
• Kingdom of Judah c. 930 to 587 BCE
• Urartu c. 860 to 590 BCE
• Median kingdom c. 678 to 550 BCE
• Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 to 539 BCE
• Dilmun c. 2800 to 544 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe

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