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# Kokturks

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The first Turkic people mentioned in history are the Huns and records about their appearance goes back to 1400 BC (Chinese sources refer them as Hiung-nu). Another tribe called Huns and led by Attila the Hun is considered, with little certainty, to be the western extension of this tribe. They are followed by Kokturks (or Gokturks), who have established the first Turkic state called by the name Turk. It was founded in 552 AD by Bumin Khan and expanded very quickly to wide territories in Central Asia, as a nomadic state composed mainly of tribesmen and horsemen that is very similar to that of [Genghis Khan]?. The most famous personalities other than its founder Bumin are princes Kul and Bilge and the vizier Tonyukuk, life stories of whom have been carved on famous Orhon inscriptions.

It is no coincidence that the word for "root" in present Turkish is kok while the word for "sky" is gok. The pronunciations of these two words are almost identical. Additionally their religion was quite reminiscent of present Shamanism and they worshiped a major god called "gok tengri" (sky god). So, it is not difficult to see the clear connection between the Turkic root culture and sky god religion. These ancient Turkic people were probably considering themselves as the roots of all people and also as special chosen people bearing the name of sky god and having the right to rule over other people.

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Last edited May 16, 2001 8:43 am (diff)
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