The Greeks who live in Anatolia are called the Pontic Greeks. They are an ethnic Greek population who have historically inhabited the Pontus region of northeastern Anatolia in present-day Turkey. The Pontic Greeks have a distinct cultural heritage and speak the Pontic Greek language, which is a dialect of Greek. They have a long history in the region, dating back to the ancient Greek colonization of the Pontus region in the 6th century BC. Throughout history, the Pontic Greeks have experienced various periods of cultural and political autonomy, as well as periods of persecution and oppression. Today, there are only a small number of Pontic Greeks remaining in Anatolia, due to mass migrations and population exchanges that have occurred in the past.