Ionia

Ionia

An area of greek settlement on the eastern Aegean touching the great Lydian city of Sardis. Ionia is well known for its strength commercially, and technical innovation. It is for no small reason that three of the wonders of the ancient world were located in the region.

In the south there is Rhodes on the island by the same name best known for its nautical skills being the home of some of the best ship builders and many competant sailors.
Further up the mainland coast there is Halicarnassus a centre of learning and one of the greater cities on the coast with its influence extending throughout the islands.
Heading further north along the coast is Miletus a centre for scientific learning and philosophy.
Further up the coast is Ephesus the home of the Temple of Artermis thought to be one of the most impressive buildings in the world.
The next city on the coast is Smyrna once a great city but after its defeat by the Lydian empire it has been reduced to a collection of villages overlooked by ancient ruins.
In the far northwest is the ruins of Troy, already history by this point.
On the Northern coast there is Cyzicus a minor city with two notable features it was once on an island in the Sea of Mamara but had been connected to the mainland artificially as well as its Gold Staters being a standard currency throughout the world.
Finally once you head inland you find Sardis a large city and a capital of the empire. Once the capital of the Lydian city it is now undergoing a change with Greek and Persian settlers filling the city.