Miletus was an Ancient Greek city-state that existed on the western coast of Anatolia from 2000 BC to 133 BC. Miletus was settled by Minoans in 2000 BC, and the Cretans fortified Miletus and named it for a town on their island. The Milesians seized land once owned by the Leleges, and Miletus came under Mycenaean control in 1450 BC. In 1320 BC, Miletus supported an Arzawan rebellion against the Hittite Empire, causing the Hittite king Mursili II to order a punitive expedition against Millawanda. During the Trojan War, Miletus allied with Troy and the Carians. Miletus was burned by the Sea Peoples during the Late Bronze Age collapse, but Miletus was rebuilt and became one of the twelve Ionian city-states of Asia Minor to form the Ionian League. Miletus built up a colonization alliance with Megara in Greece, and Miletus' tyrant Thrasybulus preserved Miletus' independence during a 12-year war with the Lydian Empire in the late 7th century BC. Miletus fell under Persian rule on the defeat of Croesus of Lydia, but Miletus led the Ionian Revolt against the Achaemenids in 499 BC. Darius the Great responded by massacring Miletus' men, expelling all young men as eunuchs, and enslaving all of the women and children. Following the end of the Greco-Persian Wars in 479 BC, Miletus was freed from Persian rule and was rebuilt with a grid layout. In 387 BC, the Peace of Antalcidas gave the Persian king Artaxerxes II control of Miletus and the other Ionian city-states, but Alexander the Great conquered Miletus for Macedon in 334 BC. Miletus remained under Hellenistic rule until 133 BC, when Miletus was incorporated into the Roman province of Asia. Miletus was abandoned during Ottoman rule in the 15th century due to the silting of the harbor and the erosion of the soil.
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