Gebze is an advancing and growing district of Turkey where it is located east of Marmara and north of Gulf Of İzmit which has a rich historical past and an economy depends on agriculture, husbandry and industry. Gebze is a district where located north of Sea of Marmara and 45 kms east of Istanbul which contains most of Kocaeli’s industry. It is the second largest district of Marmara Region and has 15% of Turkish industry.
Gebze is located around the ports, airport, national railways, E-5 and TEM motorways which are connected through Anatolia to Istanbul and Europe by connected to Kocaeli Province in Marmara Region. Gebze is an area develops its industry and urban life due to roads located through west to east. Due to its location on the main access roads Gebze became the first stop of the migration through Anatolia to Istanbul for many years. Exceeding of 10 million population increase Istanbul’s problems and cause change of localization of industrial sites to out of Istanbul. As a result of searching new settlements, most of the industrial sites localized on Gebze which is the closest one to Istanbul. Due to lands low cost and easy to come by make Gebze a center of interests. Besides town’s proximity to ports, being established very close to E-5 and TEM motorways, airports and railways and for making transition of trading easy for Anatolia, Middle East and Middle Asia and localizing and becoming 45min away of Turkey’s three biggest cities makes investor’s interests concentrate on this region.
History
This geographic region which has Gebze in it called Bithynie by ancient Greeks and Romans goes back to 12th century. This area, especially Kocaeli Peninsula became a habitation for a lot of nations in almost all of periods of history because of it’s geographical position. Kocaeli Peninsula which is the most important transition route between Asia and Europe continents has became a habitation or a passageway for multinations where they leave their cultural marks. First known national immigration goes to early ages of 12th century. This nation was Greek originate Friks. They came to Anatolia via bosphorus. Up to 12th century their immigration continues from Thracian to İzmit vicinities. But during this period no information was found about old Gebze’s location. Briefly the location of the ancient times of Gebze is unknown. There were settlements called Dakibyza and Libyysa at the time of Bithynia Kingdom ruled by Nicomede between 281 B.C. and 246 B.C. where Gebze is in today. The rumors for whereabouts of old Gebze began at this dates. Informations based on older dates are inconsistent.
The most important cause of the subjection for researches of this settlements is because the famous Carthaginian General Hannibal’s settlement on this area.
After the defeat of Zama battle Hannibal did not receive. any respect from his country and he has got to defect to Bitinya Kingdom. He became consultant of the 1st and 2nd kings Prusias of the Bithynia Kingdom. After the 2nd Prusias’ treachery he committed suicide instead of surrender and after that his body burried in the Lybissa.
This is the most important reason for so many historians’ and researchers’ research this peak dominated both sea and land. This was built at a peak. At the year 1330 after the battle between Ottomans and Byzantines, the area including Gebze falls under Ottoman’s rule. Founder of today’s Gebze is Orhan Gazi. Orhan Gazi which a mosque was built on his behalf in Gebze, is the first Turkish apostle who left his mark on this region. Orhan Gazi makes a great amount of effort for this region’s development and living. For this purpose he built establishments and supported foundations place claimed old Gebze. There are a lot of reasons why Hannibal chose this place. Fear of constantly being watched, high people activity because of Nicomedia being capital and high rate of being recognized, loss of faith in government etc.
Hannibal, hiding from Roman forces, he searched a place that sheltered, easy to escape and close to the sea. Finally he chose Libyssa which contains all this features.
At that time where the Libyssa was built at apeak dominated both sea and land. This was built at a peak. At the year 1330 after the battle between Ottomans and Byzantines, the area including Gebze falls under Ottoman’s rule. Founder of today’s Gebze is Orhan Gazi. Orhan Gazi which a mosque was built on his behalf in Gebze, is the first Turkish apostle who left his mark on this region. Orhan Gazi makes a great amount of effort for this region’s development and living. For this purpose he built establishments and supported foundations.
During the efforts of Ottoman’s becoming a state, Gebze was used as a military camp again. İlyas Çelebi, son of Akçakoca Bey who had a huge amount of efforts for foundation of Ot toman Principality played a major role both conquest and foundation of Gebze.
Gebze has an important part for years as a district connected to İstanbul for sometimes but other times mostly to Kocaeli until the last years of Ottoman Empire. At the First World War, after the defeat of Ottoman Empire, like most part of the Anatolia and Thracian Gebze was occupied by enemy forces too.
In 1921 Greece started territorial invasion following England’s invasion in 1920. After that defeated Greek military forces ran away through the way the come from with the grief of not achieving their goals.
In this years Gebze was the Anatolia’s one of the most notable places. There were English soldiers a little further away from the Turkish forces.
In an article of the dated 18th-19th January 1923 Hakimiyet-i Milliye-Ankara Newspaper mentioned Atatürk’s visits of the region and Gebze. Atatürk gone back with pleasure of the condition of the military forces.
Up to declaration of the republic Gebze which connected to İstanbul for sometimes but other times mostly to Kocaeli became a part of Kocaeli Province after the law of provinces.