The region of Cappadocia has experienced eras named after various states, societies and significant individuals. The history of Cappadocia region dates back to the Assyrian trade colonies and the Hittites who lived in the area 3.000 BC. it is possible to explore the Cappadocia region in three main eras: First eras are paleolithic, neolithic and ancient eras. Second eras are Roman and Byzantine eras and third era is the Turkish era. 

Paleolithic, Neolithic and Ancient Periods in Cappadocia

Even though there are only a few indications which indicate activity in Cappadocia dating back to the paleolithic era, evidence gathered showed that these traces date back to the u pper pa leol ith ic era, rather tha n the lower paleolithic. it is assumed that after paleolithic era volcanic eruptions did not allow human settlement in the area for a long period of time. 
This era continued until neolithic era. in the archaeological studies carried out in the region, a large number of settlements have been located dating back to the neolithic era. For instance in the vicinity of Ürgüp ( The Avla Hill ) neoliths have been discovered. in the Acem höyük excavations, remains from 6- 7 centuries BC and artefacts from Hittite and Bronze age were found. The first settlement remains in Cappadocia date back to the ancient times. Due to the living nature of Cappadocia, a constant widening of the area and resettlements throughout history, and also volcanic eruptions, no remains from hunter-gatherer era can be found. Archaeological studies carried out in areas such as Sulucakaracahöyük, Topaklı Höyük prove that in the period between Hittites and Byzantines several cultures (Hittites, Phrygians, Romans, Late Roman Empire) settled in the area. 

The history of Cappadocia begins in the neolithic city of Çatal höyük. Small kingdoms have ruled the area between 5000-4000 BC. Luwians and Hittites are the first known residents of Cappadocia. Assyrians established their trade colonies in the area in the late 2500 BC. The oldest documents recounting the actual history of Anatolia are the Cappadocian tablets of the Assyria ns trade colon ies. 
The name of Cappadocia meaning "country of beautiful horse breeding-country of beautiful horses" is the heritage of the Assyrians. The area known as Katpatuta to the Assyrians was given the name of Cappadocia in the Persian period. 

Turkish Period in Cappadocia

The Turkish era in Cappadocia begins with the Seljuq dominance in the era following the Byzantines. it continues with the Anatolian Turkish Beyliks and the influences of the Ottoman Em pire, the War of lndependence and the Republican Period. 

Cappadocia remained peaceful and uneventful in the first years of Ottoman governance. This continued until the new land registry was carried out for the purposes of increasing the income of national treasury by Suleiman the Magnificent following his coming to the Ottoman throne. 

When some of the province clerks increased the taxes by deliberately overestimating the land and crop amounts, some of the dirlik owners were dispossessed of their lands and this caused conflict between the public and the army. Moreover, the expeditions into ıran beginning in the year of 1582 damaged the manorial system and caused dirlik owners to rebel. These rebellions known as Celali rebellions flared because of the refusal of the dirlik owners to go to war leaving their families and lands behind. These rebellions influenced the Cappadocian area greatly. 
Ürgüp was the most important centre of the Cappadocian region starting from the first years of the Ottoman period to the 17th century. Sources show that Ürgüp was a town with 6 districts and 248 households, 213 of them being Muslim and 35 of other religions and ethnicities in 1530. Until the 17th century Nevşehir, formerly known as Nissa, was called Muşkara Village. A village with 18 households which was part of Ürgüp of the province of Niğde . 
Muşkara's (Nevşehir) residence situation did not change much from the 16th century to the 18th century. However following the appointment of Damat İbrahim Pasha to the office of Grand Vizier, the region experienced a significant revitalisation and regeneration. Damat İbrahim Pasha who was an important Grand Vizier in the Tulip era, made renovations to the region befitting to the spirit of the Tulip era. For instance he exercised his power to build architectural structures, completed public works and housings and changed Muşkara's name to Nevşehir after making the village a township to the Niğde Sanjak.

Milli Mücadele ve Cumhuriyet Dönemi

As the Cappadocian region was not covered by the Armistice of Moudros, it did not witness any significant events in the War of lndependence. On the other hand, Dellalzade Hacı Osman Efendi participated to the Sivas Congress as the delegate of Nevşehir and opened a branch of the Society for the Defence of the Rights ofThrace and Anatolia in Nevşehir a nd su pported the Wa r of I ndependence. 
Another significant event of this period is the meeting of Mustafa Kemal and sheikh and chelebi of the Haji Bektash Veli lslamic Monastery. After this meeting all the Bektash monasteries in Anatolia decided to support the War of lndependence and these monasteries worked as military headquarters throughout this period. Nevşehir as a part of the province of Niğde evolved into a large district following the proclamation of the republic and became a province itself in 1954.