A study on the sea names of the Korean and Anatolian peninsulas

KIM Shin* 1

1. Introduction

This paper aims to comparatively analyze the seas of and the seas of Korea. Geographically, there are a number of similarities between Turkey's Anatolian Peninsula and the Korean Peninsula. First, the two peninsulas are similar in shape; although Anatolian Peninsula is larger in size, similarities can be found in terms of the climate and natural conditions. Second, to the extent of being referred to as brother nations, Turkey and Korea share many similarities even in terms of the customs and ethnicity. Third, whereas Anatolian Peninsula is located at the western end of the Eurasian continent, Korean Peninsula is located at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent; the two peninsulas are at the eastern and western ends of the Eurasian continent. Fourth, the two peninsulas play the roles of being the starting point and the terminus of the Silk Road. Fifth, due to geographical environment, the two peninsulas historically have been active in trades with neighboring countries and, even now, trading is at the center of the industry for the two nations. Sixth, Anatolian Peninsula is surrounded by many nations, including Greece, Russia, Bulgaria, Syria, etc.; on the other hand, Korean Peninsula borders with Japan, Russia, North Korea and China. Seventh, Anatolian Peninsula is surrounded on three sides by seas: the , Aegean Sea and the . Korean Peninsula is surrounded by the South China Sea, Yellow Sea and the East Sea.

* Professor, Kyung Hee University, Korea

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Based on the views limited to seas, there are differences between the two peninsulas: the designations of seas offer differences. First, the seas around are not named after nations; however, Korean Peninsula encompasses the sea designation of “Sea of Japan”. Second, the seas around Anatolia encompass sea designations that indicate the color of the sea, such as the Black Sea. Korean Peninsula includes a sea designation of “Yellow Sea”. Third, for the seas around Anatolia, the names of places that are synonymous with the historical names are used: the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas are such seas. For Korean Peninsula, however, sea designations that conjure up coastal nations and symbolic sea designations with historical value are not encompassed.

Figure 1. Sea names of Korean and Anatolian peninsula: Brother nations

222 A study on the sea names of the Korean and Anatolian peninsulas

2. Concept of Anatolia

Anatolia (from GreekἈνατολή , Anatolḗ — "east" or "(sun)rise"), also known as Minor (from Greek:Μικρὰ Ἀ σί α Mīkrá Asía "small Asia"; in modern Turkish: Anadolu), Asian Turkey, Anatolian peninsula, Anatolian plateau, and Turkey, denotes the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey. The region is bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Aegean Sea to the west. The Sea of Marmara forms a connection between the Black and Aegean Seas through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles , and separates Anatolia from Thrace on the European . Traditionally, Anatolia is considered to extend in the east to a line between the of İskenderun and the Black Sea, approximately corresponding to the western two-thirds of the Asian part of Turkey. However, since Anatolia is now often considered to be synonymous with Asian Turkey, its eastern and southeastern borders are widely taken to be the Turkish borders with the neighboring countries, which are Georgia, , Iran, Iraq and Syria, in clockwise direction. Anatolia has been inhabited by many peoples throughout history, such as the , , , , Phrygians, Lydians, , Greeks, Assyrians, , Scythians, , Urartians, Carians, Commagene, Cilicians, Arameans, Kaskians, , Palaic, Corduene, Armenians, Romans, Colchians, Iberians, Georgians, , Laz, Zazas, Hamshenis, Sephardi Jews, Crimean Tatars, , Roma people, Circassians, Azerbaijanis, Seljuk Turks, Ottoman Turks and today predominantly modern . Each culture left behind unique artifacts, still being uncovered by archaeologists.

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3. International environment of Trojan War

1) Important cause for wars

Trojan War was probably a trade war. It was supposedly waged by the Greeks over one woman, Helen, according to Homer, around 1250 BC, about the time of Moses' exodus from Egypt. It is a Romantic story, but it is difficult to believe that a King would send thousands of ships to get one woman. There may have been an economic motive, because was a trading port. There were some trade between Mycenaeans and Trojans, and Troy was a major trading post as the people of Troas controlled the trade routes to the Black Sea. The real motive of the Greeks to destroy Troy may have been to control the Aegean Sea. In other words, Trojan War may have been a trade war.

2) Trade war

During the Middle Age, and thereafter, trade wars became more vicious. In the 13th century, there were two international trade centers in the West, Venice and Constantinople. (Italy then was not a nation state yet but was dominated by a few city states such as Venice, Rome and Florence) In 452 Attila the Hun attacked and almost destroyed many Italian cities (but not Rome) and Italians fled to Venice and other , and this was when Venice became known in the Western history. 12,000 troops gathered in Venice, but they could pay only 51,000, not the full amount of 85,000 silver marks for the voyage to Cairo. (The intent was to conquer the Moslem controlled city of Jerusalem.) Enrico Dandolo, the founder of Venetian colonial empire, diverted the fourth crusaders to Constantinople, a rival trading center. Constantinople fell on April 12, 1204, and the fourth crusade ended then and there. Most of the crusaders returned home with loots. The total amount of loots was estimated to be about 900,000 silver marks. Venice got the first pick, and Venetians brought the booties from the Constantinople to Venice, which were used to embellish Basilica di San Marco. See Virtual History of Venice.

224 A study on the sea names of the Korean and Anatolian peninsulas

4. Conclusion

The maps of Anatolian Peninsula and Korean Peninsula are very similar. The differences in sizes and directions notwithstanding, Anatolian Peninsula and Korean Peninsula share a similarity in shape. Being surrounded by seas on three sides is the same and being connected to continents is the same, as well. In addition, being located on the ends of the Eurasian continent is the same also. After being designated with names for seas by the International Hydrographic Organization in 1929, including Korea, the coastal nations of the East Sea have put in a lot of efforts in determining logically-befitting designations for the East Sea. However, despite the significant efforts of the concerning countries, a reasonable decision has not been reached as yet. Even though South Korea has been asserting simultaneous use of the names of the East Sea and Sea of Japan, Japan has argued only for exclusive representation of Sea of Japan. So, what then is the solution? Foremost, it may be deemed that the names of the seas surrounding Anatolian Peninsula are providing a clue as to how to solve this problem. First, the seas that surround Anatolian Peninsula do not seem to display any bias, on the surface. Because the names of specific countries are not listed for those seas, the point is that no national ethnic sentiments are introduced. Second, since sea designations that are palatable to the respective coastal nations are used, there is no disagreement about the names of seas. Third, when necessary, historical and geographical issues are overcome through simultaneous listing of the names; e.g., simultaneous listing of the Black Sea (Karadeniz) and the Mediterranean Sea (Akdeniz). In other words, when using a foreign name and indigenous name at the same time, in effect, the names reflecting the opinions of the affected coastal nations are being used. Anatolia Peninsula is providing a wise idea for the above. That is, it is desirable to use peaceful, coexisting names for seas that are in contact with coastal nations. It can be asserted that the name of the East Sea be changed to a peaceful, reasonable and coexisting name that reflects the opinions of the concerning coastal nations.

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References

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