I've been thinking about the survival of the Anatolian Languages, one of the Indo-European Languages that is not extinct but during its time the language stretched across pretty much the whole of the Anatolian Peninsula. The reason for the extinction of the Anatolian languages would be the marginalization of the local culture to helenization and the reason for this would also be the total marginzalization and lack of any major Anatolian independent country, the last being the Lydian Empire (Pontus doesn't count because it was all Persian-Greek).
Post-Lydians the Anatolia was conquered by the Persians and shortly after was dominated by Hellenic nations up to the point of the Turkish invasions of the 14th and 15th centuries (roughly a period of over two thousand years). This period no oubt about totally wipes out the Anatolian culture and language group to aggressive neighbors.
Though I would like to have the survival of the 'Anatolians' and by the seems of it the best chance would be the Lydian Empire. The Lydians would either have to stay a major power for sometime or whatever successors are assimilated and pick up the language. The most obvious POD would be that Croseus does not invade the Persians-at least this might be a suitable POD for survival.
Input and comments for survival of the Lydians, therego the Anatolian nation group and more independent Anatolian nations?
Post-Lydians the Anatolia was conquered by the Persians and shortly after was dominated by Hellenic nations up to the point of the Turkish invasions of the 14th and 15th centuries (roughly a period of over two thousand years). This period no oubt about totally wipes out the Anatolian culture and language group to aggressive neighbors.
Though I would like to have the survival of the 'Anatolians' and by the seems of it the best chance would be the Lydian Empire. The Lydians would either have to stay a major power for sometime or whatever successors are assimilated and pick up the language. The most obvious POD would be that Croseus does not invade the Persians-at least this might be a suitable POD for survival.
Input and comments for survival of the Lydians, therego the Anatolian nation group and more independent Anatolian nations?