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TURKISH PEOPLES (Turkic peoples) are any of various peoples whose members speak languages belonging to the Turkic subfamily of the Ural-Altaic family of languages. The world's Turkish peoples, numbering perhaps 150-200 million people in all, are the descendants of large groups of people who originated in central Asia, in a land known as Turkistan, or Turan, which is the geographical region between the Ural mountains of Russia and Altay mountains of western Mongolia.

Presently, the largest group of Turkish people is living in Turkey. Other major Turkish people live in Azerbaijan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Additionally, other Turkish people live in the Xinjiang region of western China, South Azerbaijan region of Iran, northern Iraq, in Afghanistan, Moldova and the Balkans (former Yugoslavia.)

Similarity in language and culture which is evident in literature, folkelore, garments (clothing and dresses,) instruments, symbols, dances, food and traditions unites Turks as part of a greater family of peoples. The Turkish family tree is traditionally divided into 6 branches, each branch producing different nations.

The main branches of Turks are:

1) Oghuz branch (also referred to as the western Turk branch) which includes: Turks of Turkey, Azerbaijanis (including Karapapaks, Shahsevans and Afshar tribal Turks,) Turkmens, Qashqayi Turks, Khorasani Turks, Gauguz (Gokoguz) Turks, Balkan Turks (Turks of the former Yugoslavia,)and the Turks of Iraq (referred to as Azerbaijanis or Turkmens.)

2) Kipchak branch which includes: Tatars, Nogays, Crimean Turks, Karaim Turks, Kazaks, Kyrgyz, Karakalpaks, Bashkorts, Tavli (Karachay-Balkar) Turks, and Kumyk Turks.

3) Kurluk branch which includes: Uzbeks, Uygurs, Yellow (Sari) Uygurs and Salars.

4) Siberian (Sibirya) branch which includes: Altay, Tiva, Hakas, Dolgan and Baraba.

5) Chuvash branch which includes the Chuvash Christian Turks of Russia.

6) Saha (Yakut) branch which includes the Yakut Turks of Siberia.

The Oghuz-Turk branch is the most populous, numbering more than 100 million.

List of modern Turkic nations

"Oh race of Turks, children of iron and fire, founders of a thousand homelands, wearers of a thousand crowns. If the sky above did not collapse and the earth did not give way, oh noble race, who would be able to destroy your nation and institutions..."

- Oghuz Khan

Azerbaijanis: The Azerbaijanis are a Turkish-Muslim people who number approximately 45 million. They live mostly in the South Azerbaijan region of Iran, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia, Turkey and the surrounding region. They are the descendants of various bodies of Turks, but primaraly the Oghuz Turks who migrated in mass numbers to the region in the 10th and 11th centuries.

Balkars: Turkish peoples of Russia in the Caucaus region.

Bashkirs: Natives of Bashkortistan republic in the Russian federation. Natives of Karachay-Balkar.

Chuvashs: Christian Turks of Chuvashia republic in the Russian federation.

Gagauzs: Christian Turks of Gaugauz Autonomous republic in eastern Moldova. Their proper designation is "Gok Oguz" which means "Blue Oguz."

Karachays: Turkish peoples of Russia in the Caucaus region. Natives of Karachay-Balkar.

Karakalpaks: Peoples of the Karakalpak Autonomous district in Uzbekistan.

Karapapaks: Large Turkish tribe of South Azerbaijan region of Iran. They are a tribe of the Azerbaijani nation.

Kazaks: Turko-Mongol peoples of Kazakstan and the surrounding region.

Khorasani Turks: Oguz Turks of Khorasan province (Iran.) They number close to one million.

Kirgiz: Turko-Mongol peoples of Kyrgyzstan and the surrounding region.

Kumyks: One branch of the Turks living in Russia's Dagestan republic.

Qashqays: Turkish peoples of southern Iran who inhabit primaraly Fars province and the surrounding region. They are nomadic and pastoralists.

Tatars: Turkish (often referred to as Turko-Mongol) people of Tatarstan republic of Russia.

Turkmens: Oguz Turks who inhabit Turkmenistan, northeastern Iran and northwestern Afghanistan. They are related to the Azerbaijanis, Turks of Turkey and Gauguz as well as others stemming from the Oguz branch.

Turks of Turkey: The largest group of Turkish peoples of the world. They number more than 50 million and are the most advanced of the Turkic peoples.

Tuvans: Turko-Siberian peoles of Tuva republic of Russia. They are Shamanists.

Uyghurs: Turkish people of the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region of western China. They number more than 10 million and are one of the most historically rich Turks.

Uzbeks: Turkish peoples of Uzbekistan and the surrounding region. They number more than 28 million and their native land, Uzbekistan, is the most populous of the central Asian region.

Yakuts: Turko-Siberian peoples of Yakutia of the Russian federation. They are Shamanists.

List of Turkish peoples in history

Turkish States & Empires in history

Huns
Great Huns (13th century BC-1st century AD)
Western Huns (379-496)
White Huns (Hephthalites) (5th-7th centuries)

Gokturk State (552-744)

Avars (6th-9th centuries)

Pechenegs (860-1091)

Khazars (7th-10th centuries)

Uighur State (744-840)

Kara-Khanid Khanate (840-1042)

Volga Bulgaria (800-1236)

Ghaznavid Empire (962-1187)

Khwarezm-Shahs (1097-1231)

Seljuk Turks (1073-1307)

Mamluks (1250-1517)

Khanate of Kazan (1438-1552)

Khanate of Astrakhan (1430s-1554)

Khanate of Crimea (1430-1778)

Safavids of Azerbaijan & Iran (1502-1737)

Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)

Independent Turkish Countries

Azerbaijan-1991
Kazakhstan-1991
Kyrgyzstan-1991
Turkey-1923
Turkmenistan-1991
Uzbekistan-1991

Autonomous Turkish republics in the Russian federation

Other Autonomous Turkish regions

Turkish/Mongolian States

Turkish/Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan (13th century)
Golden Horde (Kipchak Khanate) (1227-1502)
Turkish/Mongol Empire of Timur Lenk (1370-1506)
Mogul Empire of Babur (1526-1858)

Name

There are different theories as to where the word Turk originates from. The name "Turk" was officially used for the first time in Central Asia by the Gok-Turk (Blue Turks of the 6th century) who in the Orhun inscriptions wrote the name as "Turuk". Prior to this, the name Turk or varitions of it was written down in 2,000 B.C. in the ancient city of Mari near Tell Hariri in northern Iraq. In a tablet, it is written that a people named "Turukku" are coming to lands named Tiguranim and Hirbazanim. Also, the Chinese in 1328 B.C. referred to the Turks as "Tu-Kiu". In the Torah narratives, the name "Turk" was traced back to Noah's grandson. Some believe that one of the early tribes which descended from Noah used the name Turk.

The name became official with the letter that the Chinese Emperor wrote to the Gok-Turk Khan named Isbara in 585 A.D., where he describes him as "The Great Turkish Khan." Isbara wrote the Chinese empreror back stating that: "it has been past 50 years since the Turkish State has been established by God".

The most popular theory regarding the root of the word "Turk" is that it means "strong" or "powerful."

Ancient Origins

It is believed that the Turks are the natives of central Asia, in an area which is between the Ural and Altay mountains. Some historians claim that the Turks originated in western Asia, and that throughout ancient history migrated to central Asia, while some believe that infact migration to western Asia and interactions in various parts of the world by Turkic peoples in ancient times (before the advent of the Huns) occurred via central Asia.

Comparisons to the ancient language of the Sumerians (labeled as an Ural-Altaic language by most historians) to modern Turkish languages confirms many common words and religious terms. Some state that the most ancient of Turks were the Sumerians, who originated east of the Caspian Sea in Central Asia but who established a civilization in present-day southern Iraq. The Sumerian language had many words that are appearant in other modern Ural-Altaic languages such as Hungarian and Mongolian.

The ancient roots of the Turks have been diminished by some historians who seek to clarify an "Indo-European" or "Aryan" presence in parts of Asia and Europe before the period of the Huns. Thus, Turkish historians as well as some western historians who have based their researches on clear facts rather than "guesses" have concluded that after the Sumerians up until the time of the Huns, the Turks were the people who became known as Scythians, Massagetae, Alans, Cimmerians and Sarmats, whom have been labeled as "Iranian" or "unidentified" peoples ewithout any vital linguistic or anthropological facts.

The Hun period until Islam

HUNS

The Huns, whose origins go back to 1200 BCE, are considered the first Turks by scholars. In ancient Chinese sources they were referred to as "Hsiung-Nu" and as the "colored-eyed" people. The Huns are famous for four empires which they established:

1) The Great Hun Empire which was founded by Mete (Bagatir) in 204 B.C. and which covered an area which at the north was Siberia, to the south Tibet and Kashmir, to the east the Pacific Ocean and to the west the Caspian Sea.

2) The Western Hun Empire which was founded by Panu in 48 A.D. and covered the area of central Asia.

3) The European Hun Empire which was founded by four brothers by the names of Muncuk, Oktar, Rua and Aybars. This empire covered what is southern Russia, Romania, Northern Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czech republic, southern & central Germany and the area from eastern France to the Ural mountains; from northern Hungary to the Byzantine Empire.

4) The White Hun Empire which was founded in 420 A.D. by Aksuvar. This empire covered most of Turkistan (central Asia) as well as parts of northern India and also Afghanistan.

Perhaps the most famous of Hun rulers, Attila, who was called the "scourge of God" by the Romans, was King and General of the Hun empire from A.D. 433 to 453.

GOKTURKS

After the fall of the Hun advent and Turkic domination of Asia and Europe, the next Turkic federation was that of the Gok-Turks who originated from the Ashina tribe who were natives of today's Xiang Uygur. The Ashinas were the first Turkic tribe to use the name "Turk" as a political name. The Gok-Turk empire was established by Ilterish Khagan, and perhaps the most famous of the Gok-Turk princes was Kul Tegin who is mentioned in the Orhun Inscriptions dated back to the 7th century.

The Gok-Turk empire, extending from the Black Sea across central Asia to the Pacific Ocean united the Turks as a nomadic confederation. The great difference between the Gok-Turk and it's preceding Hun empire was the subordination of the Turks and their temporary Khans (lords) to a central authority that was left in the hands of a dynasty of tribal chiefs. Shamanism, the worship of nature was the most common practiced religion in the Gok-Turk state, as it was prior to the establishment of the empire.

In 582, shortly after its inception, the Gokturk Empire was divided into two khanates (states) which became known as the eastern and western empires. Both khanates were attacked by the Tang dynasty of China in 630 and were subjugated by the Chinese for years, until the first Gok-Turk state finally collapsed. Fifty-two years later, the Turks revolted against the Chinese and were able to establish the second Gok-Turk empire which lasted until 740.

The first Gok-Turk state

Rulers of the eastern & western portions:

Bumin Khaghan (552)

Kolo (552)

Bek Khan Khaghan (553 - 572)

Taspar Khaghan (572 - 581)

Ishbara Khaghan (582 - 587)

Yehu (587)

Tulan (587-599)

Buchia (599-601)

Jimin Khaghan (601 - 609)

Shibi Khaghan (609 - 619)

Chulo Khaghan (619 - 621)

Illigh Khaghan (621 - 630)

Tardu (Western ruler) (582 - 603)

Shih-keui (603-618)

Tong Yabgu (618 - 630)

Important events in the first Gok-Turk empire:

552: Bumin and Istemi overthrew the Juan-Juans

555: Final defeat of the Juan-Juans

571: Istemi’s campaigns in Azerbaijan and Transoxiana

582: Division of the Turk empire into Eastern and Western khanates

600: Tardu’s campaign against the Chinese

603: Tie Le tribes kill Tardu

610: Rise of the Eastern Khaghanate

618: Rise of the Western Khaghanate

630: Jieli Khaghan captured by the Tang Chinese, Tong Yabgu killed by his uncle, both Turk khanates collapse

659: Last remnants of the Western Turks subjugated by the Tang

682: Khutlugh founded the second Gok-Turk empire

The second Gok-Turk empire

Rulers of the eastern & western portions:

Kutlugh Iltirish Khaghan (682 - 692)

Khapaghan Khaghan (692 - 716)

Inel Bogu Khaghan (716)

Bilge Khaghan (716 - 734)

Turk Bilge Khaghan (734 - not clear)

Tenri Khan (734-741)

Khutlugh Bilge Khaghan (741-743)

Ilitmish Bilge Khaghan (743)

Ozmish Khaghan (743)

Bomei Khaghan (743-744)

Important Events in the second Gok-Turk empire

682: Kutluk and Ilterish founded the second Gok-Turk Empire

693: Kapgan Kaghan’s campaign against the On-Ok and Kyrgyz tribes

701: The Transoxiana Campaigns

710: Defeat of the Kyrgyz revolt

716: Kapgan Kaghan killed by the Bayirku tribe, his son is overthrown by Bilge and Kul Tegin

720: Bilge Kaghan’s Chinese Campaign

725: Death of Ayguji Tonyukuk

731: Death of Kul Tegin

734: Bilge Kaghan’s campaign against the Kitan and Tatabi tribes, Bilge poisoned

742: The "Rebel Alliance" capture Otugen and depose the last Gokturk ruler

Islamic Period

Turkish soldiers in the army of the Abbasid caliphs emerged as de facto rulers of most of the Muslim Middle East (except Syria and Egypt), particularly after the 10th century. Oghuz and other tribes captured and dominated various countries under the leadership of the Seljuk dynasty and eventually captured the territories of the Abbasid dynasty and the Byzantine Empire.

Meanwhile, Kirgyz and Uygurs were struggling with each other and with the mighty Chinese Empire. Kirghiz people finally settled in the region that is now referred to as Kyrgyzstan. Tatar peoples conquered Volga Bulgars in what is today southern Russia following the westward sweep of the Mongols under Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Bulgars was named tatars by Russians mistakally. Native Tatars lives only in Asia, European Tatars factically are Bulgars. (Bulgars came to Europe in 7-8th century). Everywhere, Turkish groups mixed to some extent with other local populations.

As the Seljuks declined after the Mongol invasion, the Ottoman Empire emerged as a new important Turkish state which came to dominate not only the Middle East, but also southeastern Europe and parts of southwestern Russia and northern Africa. Meanwhile, other Turkic groups founded dynasties in Iran (Safavids) and northern India (the Mughal Empire).

The Ottoman Empire grew weaker in the face of repeated wars with Russia and Austria and the emergence of nationalist movements in the Balkans, and finally gave way after World War I to the present-day republic of Turkey.

Characteristics

The majority of Turkish peoples from Siberia to eastern Europe have a similar yet distinct linguistic, cultural and historical background. The regional history of each Turkish nation and country is different, yet the common heritage of Turks is evident in literature, folkelore, garments, instruments, symbols, dances, food and traditions and political and geographical history.

Turkish peoples often differ in physical appearance. Throughout history, they have been charactarized as an Ural-Altaic race of peoples who are distantly related to other Ural-Altaic groups in Europe (Hungarians, Finns, Estonians) as well as in Asia (Mongolians, Tungus.) These people are often reffered to as "Turanians." Some have argued that the racial and linguistic classification of Turks is seperate from other Ural-Altaic peoples and Turkish (Turkic) is a seperate racial/linguistic branch.

The majority of Turks from western China to eastern Europe seem to possess Caucasoid appearance. Many Tatars, Turks from Turkey, Azerbaijanis, Bashkorts, Qashqays, Turkmens, Uzbeks, Uygurs of China and also Kazaks and Kyrgyz have very light features including blue eyes and blondish/reddish hair although most Turks look Meditterenean-Caucasoid having brown or black hair and eyes, and olive to dark skin features.

Perhaps the Mongolian invasion of eastern and central Asia in the 13th century lead to a Turkish/Mongolian mixture in some present-day Turkish regions. Kazaks, Kyrgyz, Altays, Tatars, Tuvans and Yakuts are often referred to as Turko-Mongol peoples. However, these ethnic groups are linguistically and culturally Turkish and perhaps racially mixed with Mongols.

In some Turkish areas, the existance of peoples who have light skin features as well as light hair and eyes with a Mongoloid facial structure is common (eg some Uzbeks and Tatars.) The majority of Turks seem to have high cheek bones, round heads, and straight hair.

Most Turks are Sunni Muslims. The Azerbaijanis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and South Azerbaijan are the only Turkish/Shia-Muslim people in the world (the Qashqays who live in southern Iran and who are often referred to as Azerbaijanis but are a sepereate Turkic ethnic group are also Shias,) and the Chuvash of Russia and Gauguz (Gokoguz) of Moldova are the only two Christian-Turkish peoples. Some Turks are Shamanist (especially in the eastern-Turkic republics of Russia such as Altay, Hakas and Tiva.) Shamanism (worship of nature) was the predominent relgion of the different Turkic branches prior to the 8th century, when the majority accepted Islam. There are also some Buddhist, Jewish, Zoroastian and Baha'i Turks, however their numbers are few.

It is noteworthy to mention that the term "Turkic" did not exist before the Stalinist era. Today, the term "Turkish" is most commonly associated with the Turks of Turkey and eastern Europe, while before the establishment of the Soviet Union, "Turkish" meant all "Turkic" peoples of the world. In the Turkish languages, there is no distinction between Turkish/Turkic. When referring to the different dialects of the Turks, the term Turkish is used (for example the language of the Azerbaijanis is Azerbaijani-Turkish and the language of the Uygurs is Uygur-Turkish.)

Some refer to the Turkish countries, regions and peoples as part of the "Turkish World" (Turkic world) or in Turkish: "Turk Dunyasi." The same is used for Arabs who also feel as if they are part of a greater "Arab world."

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