Because of its inaccessibility, south-west Turkey more or less developed its culture alone until the arrival of Alexander the Great ( 330 BC). Of great importance were the Carian and the Lycian  nations (not to be confused with Lydians, who lived further north) probably descended from the native population of Anatolia. The Greek writer Herodotus tells us that, according to legend, the Carians came from Crete. "The Carians themselves, however,... maintained that they had always lived on the mainland... Scholars today are much inclined to believe that in this matter the Carians were in the right" ( George E. Bean, Turkey beyond the Maeander).

The Carians had as their capital first Mylasa (Milas) and later, under King Mausolus (died 353 BC) Halikarnassos, nowadays Bodrum. Mausolus is especially renowned because the Mausoleum, named after him, was one of the seven wonders of  the world. The remains were used by the Crusaders of St.John in the 15th Century to build an impressive castle guarding Bodrum harbour.

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