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| ] in the late 19th and early 20th century]] | |||
| The '''Turkic people''' are any of various peoples whose members speak languages in the ] family of languages. These people, possibly numbering 150 million in population, are probably the diverse descendants of large groups of tribespeople who originated in ]. | |||
| Turkey is a terrorist country, they killed 2 million Christian Arminians in the early 1900s. They kiiled 300000 Kurds in the last 20 years. | |||
| == Nomenclature == | |||
| The first mention of the term "Turk" which remains to this day, was by the ] in the ]. A letter by the ] written to the Göktürk khan named ] in ] describes him as "the Great Turk khan". The ] from the same time use the term "Turuk". | |||
| Oppose Turkey becomming an EU member. | |||
| Previous use of similar terms, like those in a tablet from ] found in the ancient city of Mari near Tell Hariri in northern Iraq (which mentions that a people named "Turukku" are coming to the lands of Tiguranim and Hirbazanim), the Chinese in ] (referring to a neighbouring people as "Tu-Kiu"), or that in the ] one of the grandsons of ] is named "Turk", are of unknown significance, although some feel strongly that this is early evidence of the historical continuency of the term and the people as an ethnic (and possibly linguistic) unit. | |||
| The most common popular explanation in present-day Turkey regarding the root of the word "Turk" is that it means "strong" or "powerful". Also in the 16. century the ] believed that "Turk" also meant: "He who has reached the most mature stage/stage of perfection" ('kemâle ermiş') | |||
| The English term "Turkic" is nowadays mainly used to describe the languages and peoples of the whole area while the term "Turkish" is commonly seen as referring to the peoples and language of modern ] and some of the ethnically and culturally particularly close peoples and ethnic minorities in surrounding countries. Some feel that this is an artificial distinction and claim that the Turkic languages do not make themselves this distinction. However, in modern Turkish, the term Türk refers to Turkish people and culture, while the term Türki refers to Turkic people and cultures. They also claim that much of the separation is the product of ], and that prior to the founding of the ] the term ] was used to describe all Turkic people which by similarity in language and culture are seen as united and part of a greater family of peoples. Others are worried that much of this debate is used as a support to the racial theories of ], pointing out that the cultural, religious, historical, political, and even racial differences are too big for speaking of a unity. | |||
| :''For the Iranian province of Kordestan, please see ].'' | |||
| == History == | |||
| It is believed that the Turkic people are natives of Central Asia. Some historians claim that the Turks originated in Western Asia, and migrated in prehistoric times to Central Asia, while others believe that migration to Western Asia and interactions in various parts of the world by Turkic peoples in ancient times (before the advent of the ]) occurred via Central Asia. | |||
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| Comparisons to the ancient ] (which they label as ]) to modern Turkic languages show common vocabulary. Based on these comparisons it is claimed that the Sumerians were the most ancient documented Turkic people, that they originated from east of the ] but established a civilization in ]. Others dismiss this as an expression of pan-Turkist ideology, pointing out that most linguists consider Sumerian a ], while a few others connect it to the ] languages. Further, the classification of languages into an Ural-Altaic group is often criticised, due to perceived lack of evidence and perceived lack of obvious similarties between languages classified as such. | |||
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| |], flown by separatists in parts of ], ], ], ], and ]. See ''']'''.]] | |||
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| '''Kurdistan''' is an area in the ], inhabited mainly by the ], covering parts of ], ], ], ], and ]. Its borders are hard to define, as none of the states in question acknowledge Kurdistan as a ] or ] region, but it is generally held to include those regions with large Kurdish populations. According to one account it includes 25 million people in a 190,000 km<sup>2</sup> (74,000 sq. mi) area. Others estimate as much as 40 million Kurds are on the globe and their land covers an area as big as ]. The ] in ] and the ] in ] are both included in the usual definition of Kurdistan | |||
| Kurds were first promised an independent nation-state in the ] ], which divided the former ] among the ], Turkey, and others, and gave independence to ]. Since that time Kurdish separatists have continued to seek independence in an area approximating that identified at Sevres. | |||
| Some scholars will also consider the ], whose origins go back to ], as one of the earlier Turkic tribes. | |||
| ==History== | |||
| Leaving these controversies aside, the precise date of the initial expansion from the early homeland remains unknown. The first state known as "Turk" giving its name to the many states and people afterwards, was that of the ] (''gog'' = 'blue' or 'celestial') in the ] AD. | |||
| Before ], most Kurds lived within the boundaries of the ], in the ]. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the ] created several countries within its former boundaries. Originally Kurdistan, along with ] was to be one of them, according to the Treaty of Sèvres. However, the reconquest of these areas by ] and other pressing issues caused the Allies to accept the renegotiated ], giving this territory to Turkey and leaving the Kurds without a self-ruled region. Other Kurdish areas were assigned to the new states of ] and ] under both treaties. These boundaries were drawn with more concern for the division of oil resources and influence between different colonial powers and for rewarding pro-Allied Arab leaders than for ethnic distributions. Turkey did request northern Iraq, but the allies were more concerned with oil than stability (one of the major reasons of conflicts in Africa and the Middle East). | |||
| Since WWII, Kurds have been divided between several states, in each of which they are minorities. Many Kurds have campaigned for independence or autonomy, often through force of arms. | |||
| Later Turkic peoples include the ] (mainly 8th century), ]s, ], ] (or Ğuz) Turks, and ]. As these peoples were founding states in the area between ] and ], they came into contact with the Muslim people and gradually adopted ]. However, there were also (and still are) Turkic people belonging to different religions, including ], ]s (see ]), ], and ]. | |||
| But there has been no support by any of the regional governments or by outside powers for changes in regional boundaries. A sizable Kurdish ] exists in Western Europe that participates in agitation for Kurdish issues, but most of the governments in the Middle East have historically banned open Kurdish activism. | |||
| In Turkey, Iran, and Iraq, Kurdish ] groups, known in the Kurdish culture as ']', have fought for a Kurdish state. In Northern Iraq, Peshmerga fought against the Iraqi government before and during the ] and now police the ] there. Another guerrilla group, the ] (PKK) have fought an armed campaign in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran. In Turkey this conflict has involved the deaths of over 30,000 people. | |||
| Turkic soldiers in the army of the ] ] emerged as ''de facto'' rulers of most of the Muslim Middle East (except ] and ]), particularly after the 10th century. ] and other tribes captured and dominated various countries under the leadership of the ] and eventually captured the territories of the Abbasid dynasty and the ]. | |||
| ==The Region== | |||
| Meanwhile, Kirghiz and Uyghurs 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. ] peoples conquered ] in what is today ] following the westward sweep of the Mongols under ] in the 13th century. Bulgars was named ''tatars'' by Russians mistakenly. Native Tatars lives only in Asia, European tatars are in fact Bulgars. (Bulgars came to Europe in 7-8th century). Everywhere, Turkic groups mixed to some extent with other local populations. | |||
| ===Northern Kurdistan=== | |||
| '''Northern Kurdistan''' is a geo-cultural region located in present-day southeastern ]. After the ], there was no official claim of an independent Kurdish State. ] often refered to a "Turco-Kurdish cooperation" during the years of ''Millî Mücadele'' ("National Struggle"). This was in accord with acts of the ] government such as sending a team of instructors to train the Kurdish rebels, who were then fighting against ] troops under the banner of the "Kingdom of Kurdistan". | |||
| For over two decades, militant Kurdish seperatists such as the ] have campaigned for independence through force of arms. Other Kurdish activists have campaigned constitutionally for the same ends or for various schemes of regional autonomy. | |||
| As the Seljuks declined after the Mongol invasion, the ] emerged as a new important Turkic 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 (like the ]) and northern ] (the ]). | |||
| ===Southern Kurdistan=== | |||
| 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 ] to the present-day republic of ]. | |||
| '''Southern Kurdistan''' is a geo-cultural region located in present-day Northern ]. The southern boundary of the present-day Kurdistan Regional Government – known as the 'Green Line' – passes roughly through the middle of the area in which most Iraqi Kurds live, leaving a number of Kurds outside the autonomous zone. On the other hand, this transitional region (which includes the cities of ] and ]) is ethnically quite diverse, as it includes the bulk of Iraqi ] and ]s as well as large numbers of ] and ] ]s. | |||
| The ] was designated for three northern provinces in ]. Since the ] of ], the ] under the leadership of ], and the ] under the leadership of ] have controlled much of Southern Kurdistan. The capital of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region is ] (also known as ''Hewler'' in ]), although the main Kurdish parties have indicated their preference for ] as the capital of an eventual Kurdish state. The latter city is currently hotly contested by Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen factions, and there is a strong and vocal opposition of ] to permanent Kurdish control of the city. | |||
| == Geographical Distribution and ethnic division == | |||
| Presently, the largest group of Turkic people live in ]. Other major Turkic peoples live in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Additionally, Turkic people live in ], the ] region of western ], northern ], ], ], and the ] (particularly in ], ], ] and former ]). A small number of Turkic people also live in ] (capital of Lithuania). | |||
| ===Other Kurdish inhabited areas=== | |||
| An exact line between the different Turkic people cannot be drawn easily. The following is a non-comprehensive list of the major groups: | |||
| '''Iranian Kurdistan:''' In ], a short lived Soviet-created and Soviet-backed "Kurdish" entity in Iran was crushed by government forces when ] protective forces were withdrawn. In the constitution of the ], all language minorities including Kurdish speakers have the right to teach the language in schools and have publications. There are various Kurdish books and newspapers published in Iran. In Iran there is also a province named ]. | |||
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| Some people divide the above into six branches: the ], ], ], ], ], and Saha/] branches. | |||
| One of the major difficulties perceived by many who try to classify the various Turkic languages, dialects, peoples and ethnic groups is the impact ] and particularly ]'s nationality policies, creation of new national demarcations and mass deportations had on the ethnic mix in previously largely multicultural regions like ]/], ] and ]. Many of the above mentioned classifications are therefore by no means generally accepted, neither in detail nor in general. Another aspect often debated is the influence of ] and the emerging ] in the newly independent Central Asian republics on the perception of ethnic divisions. | |||
| == Physical Appearance == | |||
| Turkic peoples often differ in physical appearance. The majority of Turkic people from western China to eastern Europe seem to possess certain ] characteristics. Some have very light features including blue eyes and blondish/reddish hair although most Turkic people look Mediterranean, having brown or black hair and eyes, and olive to dark skin features. In some Turkic areas, the existence of peoples who have light skin features as well as light hair and eyes with a Mongolian facial structure is common (like some Uzbeks and Tatars). The majority of Turkic people seem to have high cheek bones, round heads, and straight hair. | |||
| There has been much debate about the ] origin of Turkic people, with some assuming a Ural-Altaic race comprising of ]s, ]s, ]s, Turkic peoples, ]s and ]s, others assuming a separate Turkic race, partially mixed with Mongols. Some even belief that Chinese, Korean, and Japanese are Turkic people of the Tungusic group. Others again point out that many languages have commonly been adopted either by choice or by force by racially diverse people. The current common understanding is to assume at least a partial separation of linguistic and racial heritage, based on the multitude of invasions, wars, empires, population movements in the region and the general disrepute all racial origin theories have fallen in recent times. | |||
| == Religion == | |||
| Most Turkic people are ] ]. But many people in Eastern Turkey are ]s and most of the Turkic people of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan are ] Muslims. The distribution of Alevis turks are balanced throughtout the east and west ends of Turkey. | |||
| The Chuvash of Russia and the Gagauz of Moldova are largely ]s. | |||
| Some Turkic people (particularly in the Russian autonomic regions and republics of ], ], and ]) are largely ]s. Shamanism was the predominant religion of the different Turkic branches prior to the ], when the majority accepted Islam. | |||
| There are also a few Buddhist, Jewish, Zoroastian, and Baha'i Turkic people. | |||
| == "Turkish World" and "Pan-Turkism" == | |||
| Some refer to the Turkic countries, regions and peoples as part of the "Turkish World". Others are worried that this is a result and example of Pan-Turkism, designed to encourage hegemonial or even imperialistic aims of modern day Turkey. | |||
| Proponents of the term point out that in a similar fashion many Arabs also feel to be part of a greater "Arab World". It is also said that encouragement of this cultural and linguistic affinity can be used as a vehicle to regional development and increased regional security. | |||
| Opponents point to the nationalism and the imperial past of modern Turkey, the role of the pan-Turkic movements in the revolutionary wars in Russia, and the cultural, religious, and political diversity of the many Turkic peoples and ethnic groups and feel that a movement to greater pan-Turkic unity might be a negative influence on the region. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| *] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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| * — Kurd and Kurdistan News - United Kurdish Voice | |||
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Revision as of 00:26, 22 April 2005
Turkey is a terrorist country, they killed 2 million Christian Arminians in the early 1900s. They kiiled 300000 Kurds in the last 20 years.
Oppose Turkey becomming an EU member.
- For the Iranian province of Kordestan, please see Kurdistan Province, Iran.
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 |
Kurdistan is an area in the Middle East, inhabited mainly by the Kurds, covering parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, and Syria. Its borders are hard to define, as none of the states in question acknowledge Kurdistan as a demographic or geographical region, but it is generally held to include those regions with large Kurdish populations. According to one account it includes 25 million people in a 190,000 km (74,000 sq. mi) area. Others estimate as much as 40 million Kurds are on the globe and their land covers an area as big as France. The Kurdistan Province in Iran and the Kurdish Autonomous Region in Iraq are both included in the usual definition of Kurdistan
Kurds were first promised an independent nation-state in the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres, which divided the former Ottoman Empire among the United Kingdom, Turkey, and others, and gave independence to Armenia. Since that time Kurdish separatists have continued to seek independence in an area approximating that identified at Sevres.
History
Before World War I, most Kurds lived within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire, in the province of Kurdistan. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Allies created several countries within its former boundaries. Originally Kurdistan, along with Armenia was to be one of them, according to the Treaty of Sèvres. However, the reconquest of these areas by Kemal Atatürk and other pressing issues caused the Allies to accept the renegotiated Treaty of Lausanne, giving this territory to Turkey and leaving the Kurds without a self-ruled region. Other Kurdish areas were assigned to the new states of Iraq and Syria under both treaties. These boundaries were drawn with more concern for the division of oil resources and influence between different colonial powers and for rewarding pro-Allied Arab leaders than for ethnic distributions. Turkey did request northern Iraq, but the allies were more concerned with oil than stability (one of the major reasons of conflicts in Africa and the Middle East).
Since WWII, Kurds have been divided between several states, in each of which they are minorities. Many Kurds have campaigned for independence or autonomy, often through force of arms. But there has been no support by any of the regional governments or by outside powers for changes in regional boundaries. A sizable Kurdish diaspora exists in Western Europe that participates in agitation for Kurdish issues, but most of the governments in the Middle East have historically banned open Kurdish activism.
In Turkey, Iran, and Iraq, Kurdish guerrilla groups, known in the Kurdish culture as 'Peshmerga', have fought for a Kurdish state. In Northern Iraq, Peshmerga fought against the Iraqi government before and during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and now police the Kurdish Autonomous Region there. Another guerrilla group, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have fought an armed campaign in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran. In Turkey this conflict has involved the deaths of over 30,000 people.
The Region
Northern Kurdistan
Northern Kurdistan is a geo-cultural region located in present-day southeastern Turkey. After the Treaty of Sèvres, there was no official claim of an independent Kurdish State. Kemal Atatürk often refered to a "Turco-Kurdish cooperation" during the years of Millî Mücadele ("National Struggle"). This was in accord with acts of the Ankara government such as sending a team of instructors to train the Kurdish rebels, who were then fighting against British troops under the banner of the "Kingdom of Kurdistan".
For over two decades, militant Kurdish seperatists such as the PKK have campaigned for independence through force of arms. Other Kurdish activists have campaigned constitutionally for the same ends or for various schemes of regional autonomy.
Southern Kurdistan
Southern Kurdistan is a geo-cultural region located in present-day Northern Iraq. The southern boundary of the present-day Kurdistan Regional Government – known as the 'Green Line' – passes roughly through the middle of the area in which most Iraqi Kurds live, leaving a number of Kurds outside the autonomous zone. On the other hand, this transitional region (which includes the cities of Mosul and Kirkuk) is ethnically quite diverse, as it includes the bulk of Iraqi Turkmen and Assyrians as well as large numbers of Sunni and Shia Arabs.
The Kurdish Autonomous Region was designated for three northern provinces in 1970. Since the Persian Gulf War of 1991, the Kurdistan Democratic Party under the leadership of Massoud Barzani, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan under the leadership of Jalal Talabani have controlled much of Southern Kurdistan. The capital of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region is Arbil (also known as Hewler in Kurdish), although the main Kurdish parties have indicated their preference for Kirkuk as the capital of an eventual Kurdish state. The latter city is currently hotly contested by Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen factions, and there is a strong and vocal opposition of Turkey to permanent Kurdish control of the city.
Other Kurdish inhabited areas
Iranian Kurdistan: In 1946, a short lived Soviet-created and Soviet-backed "Kurdish" entity in Iran was crushed by government forces when Soviet protective forces were withdrawn. In the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, all language minorities including Kurdish speakers have the right to teach the language in schools and have publications. There are various Kurdish books and newspapers published in Iran. In Iran there is also a province named Kurdistan.
See also
External links
- Kurdish Misplaced Pages
- KurdishMedia.com — Kurd and Kurdistan News - United Kurdish Voice
- "Kurds Build Their Own Identity"
- A dozen maps of Kurdistan by GlobalSecurity.org