The town subsequently fell to the Romans, Byzantines, and Selcuks under Alpaslan in 1073, and then to the Ottomans under Yildirim Beyazit in 1402, who remained in control until the First World War. The town, once an important trading center on the caravan route to the east, had declined in importance by the nineteenth century. In consequence of its role in the war and its strategic position, it was declared the capital of the new Turkish Republic on the 13th October,1923. To reach Ankara is not difficult. Most countries have flights to the city's Esenboga Airport, and from this airport there are regular flights to the major cities of Turkey.
Turkish railways offer a more leisurely mode of travel to a number of cities.
The climate is a typical continental one. The winters are cold with some rain and snow.