The early permanent settlements in and around Konya go back to prehistoric times.  The cultures of the Neolithic, Palaeolithic and Early Bronze Ages can be found within this period of time. The mounds within which the early settlements are buried are within the borders of Konya. The findings of the Neolithic period have been dug-out during  Catalhoyuk excavations. The Hittite settlements were at Karahoyuk, which lies on the outskirts of Konya today. The archaeological excavations have shed light on the way of living of the people who lived on this land in those days. The Phyrigians, who ended the  Hittite  domination on Asia Minor, were migrating tribes from the Thrice. The findings from the Aleaddin mound, Karapinar, Gicikısla and Sizma belong to the seventh millennium B.C. Konya (Cavania) was invaded by the Lycian, Alexander the Great and Romans.  The Roman  domination all over Asia Minor was long-lasting and Konya was called Iconium (25 A.D.). Saint Paul landed at Antalya and, penetrating the Anatolian interior, made her a land of the Ottoman Empire. From there, he passed through Antiochia (Yalvac) and came to Iconium. In those days Lystra, Laodica and Sille were the predominant Byzantine settlements. The penetration of Islam into Asia Minor brought the Arabian raids, which were made from Konya.

    After the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071 a large part of Anatolia including Konya was captured by Seljuk Turks, and the dominance of the Eastern Roman Empire began to disappear. Suleyman Shah, the Anatoilan Seljuk Sultan, declared Konya the seat of his empire in 1076. In 1080 Iznik was made the capital and in 1097, once more, Konya was declared the capital of Anatolian Seljuk Empire, staying that way until 1277. Karamanoglu Mehmet Bey took over the rule of the Karamanogulları State. The Ottoman Sultan Murad II captured Konye in 1442 and ended the Karamanogulları rule. Konya enjoyed many years of esteem, making for herself a notable reputation during the Ottoman reign. Konya was the halting place of Yavuz Sultan Selim during his campaigns to Egypt and Persia. Suleyman the Magnificent and Murad IV halted in Konya on their way to Bagdad.

The city grew larger and developed rapidly after 1923. The considerably rich backgound of Konya has been enough to make her seen as an open-air museum, with numerous historical sites and a large number of works of art.                                 

                Mevlana's Life