Çeşme is a pretty coastal town situated about 70 km from Izmir in Western Anatolia. Its history can be dated as far back as 3000BC. Erythrai and Çesmeköy were the first settlements the central district of Çesme is a more recent development.

Even though its history is largely unclear, information gathered from excavations and research done in the ancient city of Erythrai place its establishment around 3000BC.

In around 2000 BC Leleghs, who were native Anatolean people, settled in the area. For a variety of reasons there seems to have been an influx of people from Greece who came across the Aegean sea from the islands but the Leleghs were still the dominant force.

Research also revealed, there seems to have been a small settlement to the East of Çesme called Kalemburnu. The area came under the dominance of the Lydians in the 6th century BC and throughout its history it was also controlled by the Romans and Alexander the Great. In or around 334BC the area became independent and flourished due to its connection with the Roman Empire.


In the 3rd century AD it lost its influence and its development was curtailed. It wasn't until a famous Turkish chief Emir Çaka used the Çesme peninsula as a base for his sea wars against the Aegean islands that Çesme became important again.

In the 13th century the Germian Lord was Sasa Bey and in the 14th century the area was conquered by Aydinogullari and was settled by them.