Course Description
This course explores the political, social, and cultural development of Turkic peoples from ancient times to the twentieth century. Students examine the origins of the Turkic peoples, the Altai theory, their early homelands, and the formation of early Turkic ethnoses. The course provides an overview of major ancient and medieval Turkic states and confederations — including the Hunnic Empire, Göktürks, Uyghurs, Kipchaks, Khazars, and other steppe polities—and analyzes their role in the political and cultural landscape of Eurasia. Further topics include the rise and influence of the Seljuks, the Qaraqoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu states, the Ottoman Empire and its expansion, as well as the traditions of statehood among Turkic groups in Central Asia and Siberia. The course also covers the nineteenth-century experience of Turkic peoples under the Russian Empire, the Qing dynasty, and the Qajar state, along with the emergence of national liberation movements and new intellectual currents. Students study the independence efforts of the early twentieth century, the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, and the national struggles of other Turkic peoples. By situating the history of Turkic peoples within the broader Eurasian context, the course enables students to understand their historical interactions, contributions to world civilization, and ongoing cultural and political significance.
