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| The '''Turkic peoples''' are (currently some 150 million) ]ns whose members speak languages in the ] family of languages, and their descendants thoughout the world. | The '''Turkic peoples''' are (currently some 150 million) ]ns whose members speak languages in the ] family of languages, and their descendants thoughout the world. | ||
| == Nomenclature == | |||
| The first mention of the term "''Turk''" applied to a known Turkic group, was in reference to the ] in the ]. A letter by the ] written to the Göktürk Khan named ] in ] describes him as "the Great Turk Khan". The ] (735 AD) use the term "''Turuk''". | |||
| Previous use of similar terms are of unknown significance, although some strongly feel that they are evidence of the historical continuity of the term and the people, as an ethnic (and possibly linguistic) unit since early times. These include: a tablet from ] found in the ancient city of ] situated at Tell Hariri in ], mentioning that a people named "''Turukku''" are coming to the lands of Tiguranim and Hirbazanim; a Chinese record of ] referring to a neighbouring people as "''Tu-Kiu''"; and the ], where one of the grandsons of ] is named "Turk". Zend-Avesta is a persian text. Noah is in the Hebrew Bible. No evidence suggests that the Persians shared Hebrew religious beliefs. Thus the claim that Zend-Avesta mentions Noah is highly unlikely. | |||
| There are evidences that Indo-European, Finno-Ugrian and Turkic ethnos abided in Transcaucasia during 7-6 millenium BC and probably at the beginning of the 5-th millenium BC. More here: http://www.geocities.com/valentyn_ua/AO21.doc | |||
| The most common popular explanation in present-day Turkey regarding the root of the word "Turk" is that it means "strong" or "powerful". In the 16th 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 entire family of related languages and peoples, while the term "Turkish" is usually seen as referring to the peoples and language of the modern nation of ], and some of the peoples and minorities in surrounding countries who are, ethnically and culturally, particularly close. Some feel that this is an artificial distinction, and claim that speakers of Turkic languages themselves do not make this distinction. However, in modern Turkish, the term ''Türk'' corresponds to Turkish people and culture, while the term ''Türki'' refers to Turkic peoples and cultures. | |||
| It is also claimed 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 peoples, who by similarity in language and culture, are seen as united and part of a greater family of peoples. Others worry that much of this debate is used to support the racial theories of ], pointing out that the cultural, religious, historical, political, and even racial differences are too great to speak of any unity. | |||
| == History == | |||
| It is believed that the Turkic people are native to 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. | |||
| Comparisons of the ancient ] with modern Turkic languages (labeled as ]) have allegedly shown some common vocabulary. Based on these comparisons, it is claimed that the Sumerians were the most ancient documented Turkic people, and that they originated 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 ], and a few others connect it to the ] languages. Further, the classification of languages into an "Ural-Altaic" group is often criticised, due to a perceived lack of evidence or obvious similarities between the languages so classified. | |||
| Some scholars also consider the ], whose origins may go back to ], as one of the earlier Turkic tribes. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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 Muslims and gradually adopted ]. However, there were also (and still are) Turkic people belonging to other religions, including ], ]s (see ]), ], and ]. | |||
| 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 ]. | |||
| Meanwhile, Kirghiz and Uyghurs were struggling with each other and with the mighty Chinese Empire. Kirghiz people ultimately settled in the region now referred to as Kyrgyzstan. ] peoples conquered the ] in what is today ], following the westward sweep of the Mongols under ] in the 13th century. Bulgars were thus mistakenly called ''Tatars'' by the Russians. Native Tatars live only in Asia; European Tatars are in fact Bulgars. (The Bulgars came to Europe in the 7-8th century). Everywhere, Turkic groups mixed with other local populations to some extent. | |||
| In Central Asia, a Turkic warrior caste whose lifestyle was influenced by the Mongols became the aristocrats of the polyglot ] culture. These ]s conquered on horseback, while ]-schooled ] (called "]s") served as their administrators over the territories they absorbed. ] conquered much of Central Asia, while his descendant ] moved into ], founding the ] ("Mongol") dynasty. | |||
| As the Seljuks declined after the Mongol invasion, the ] emerged as a new important Turkic state that 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 northern ] (the ]). | |||
| 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 it finally gave way after ] to the present-day republic of ]. | |||
| == Geographical distribution and ethnic division == | |||
| Presently, the largest group of Turkic people lives 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). | |||
| An exact line between the different Turkic people cannot easily be drawn. The following is a non-comprehensive list of the major groups: | |||
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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 universally accepted, either in detail or 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 from one another in physical appearance. The majority of Turkic peoples 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 (as with 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 ]s, ]s, ]s, Turkic peoples, ]s and ]s; others assuming a separate Turkic race, partially mixed with ]. The ], ] (although Sinicized), and ] are believed to be Turkic peoples of the Tungusic group. Still others point out that many languages have often been adopted, either by choice or by force, by racially diverse peoples. Currently, the common understanding is to assume at least partially separate linguistic and racial heritages for the various groups, based on the multitude of invasions, wars, empires, and population movements in the region, and the general disrepute all other racial origin theories have received in recent times. | |||
| == Religion == | |||
| Most Turkic people are ] ]. But many people in Eastern Turkey are ]s. The distribution of Alevi Turks is balanced throughout 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 autonomous 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 concept point out that in similar fashion, many Arabs also feel to be part of a greater "Arab World". It is also held that encouragement of this cultural and linguistic affinity can be used as a vehicle to increased regional development and security. | |||
| Opponents point to the nationalism and the imperial past of modern Turkey, the role of pan-Turkic movements in the revolutionary wars in Russia, and the cultural, religious, and political diversity among 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== | |||
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Revision as of 16:48, 27 May 2005
The Turkic peoples are (currently some 150 million) Central Asians whose members speak languages in the Turkic family of languages, and their descendants thoughout the world.