The Lydians (First half of 2000s – 546 BC), are thought to have arrived and settled in Anatolia around 2000 BC. Linguistic studies show that the Lydians were of Central Asian origin, and that their roots date back to the Bronze Age in Anatolia. The kingdom of Lydia suddenly grew rich and developed in the first half of the Seventh Century BC, and it became the most powerful kingdom of the region. In terms of its politics and society, the Lydian civilization was a fusion of Eastern and Western influences and it is considered one of the most interesting kingdoms to emerge in Asia Minor.

Three Lydian dynasties ruled in Western Anatolia, and the kingdom had 42 known kings. First came the Atyads, then the Heraclids, and last, the Mermnads. Hittite texts mention the Atyad Dynasty and King Menes. The Heraclid Dynasty ruled the kingdom between years 1700 – 1200 BC and their domination ended when the Indo-European tribes arrived in Anatolia in 1192 BC through the Straits. The great Hittite Empire also went into decline at the time.

The Lydian Kingdom reestablished itself again under the rule of the Mermnad Dynasty. During this period, the kingdom prospered and developed as a result of the discovery of gold mines, gold processing techniques and trade. The Mermnad Dynasty ruled the kingdom for 134 years and its first king was KIng Gyges. He rebuilt the so-called "Royal Road", which connected Ephesus to Mesopotamia helping to strengthen commercial ties between East and West and he declared war on the Western Anatolian Helenic states which were forced to pay taxes. To the East, he fought against the Cimmerians but he was defeated by them during a second battle. The Cimmerians destroyed Sardis and killed King Gyges on the battle field.

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