IS17403CR

Islamic Culture and Society under the Ottomans

Unit-I

(i) Origin and History of the Turks

 Sources of ancient Turks history comes from the
Chinese chronicles of Sui (580-618) and Tang (618-
905) dynasties.
 According to the Chinese, the word ‘turk’ was a
turkish word meaning ‘helmet’.
 Chinese were engaged in several centuries of warfare
with a nomad nation called by Chinese ‘Hiung-nu’ or
‘Hiung slaves’- from it comes ‘Hun’.
 Scholars debate on the term ‘Hun’ whether it should
be applied to the Turks or not.
 Some scholars are of the opinion that the term ‘Turk’
originated in the year 543 C.E.
 One tribal (nomad) chief Asena, with 500 tents placed
himself under the protection of the then dominant
nomad power (west of the Tung empire) namely
Geougen.
 Hiung Nu------Tsugo-----Asena (439C.E.)-----Nutor-----
Tumen (543 C.E.)

 Notur first applied the word ‘Turk’ to his people and

his son Tumen founded the Turkish power in 543 C.E.
 They lived somewhere between what are now called
Etzinai and Kokonor in the modern Chinese province
of Kansuh.
 Turks when they first took the national name of
‘Turk’, were of Hiung-Nu origin.
 The mountain along the lower slopes of which they
lived- known to the Chinese, like the Altai, as ‘Golden
Mountains’ – were quite close to China
 Notur, the father of their political founder Tumen, first
used the name ‘Turk’ as a tribal designation in the first
half of the 6th century C.E.
 Tumen only reigned for two years having rendered
excellent military service to his master, the Geougen.
 Tumen thought himself entitled to a Geougen princess.
His advances were repelled; he revolted, overthrew the
Geougen empire and himself assumed the title of
Khakan or Khan.
 The word ‘han’ or ‘khan’ occurs in history, apparently
as a Tungusic title.
 Chinese chronicles suggest that Tumen died in 553
C.E., leaving at least five sons; Isiki, Mukan, Tapo,
Yangsu and Tateu.
 Isiki died almost as soon as he came to the throne. He
was succeeded by his brother Mukan.
 Mukan reigned from 553 to 572 C.E.
 It was under Mukan’s rule that the Turkish empire
attained its highest early development.
 Mukan asserted a suzerainty over the Kirghiz and
nomad Tungusic tribes and established a strong system
of government.
 The rival Tungusic dynasty, that was civilized and
settled branches ruling as emperors of North China
did all in their power to curry favor with the
formidable Turkish Khan.
 Turks used to send their emissaries on trade and
diplomatic mission to the Byzantine and Persian
empires.
 Shapur Khan, son of Isiki ruled from 581 to 587 C.E.
 There were subordinate governments under supreme
leader Shapur Khan
(i) Amro (s/o Tapu)
(ii) Dalobian (s/o Mukan)
(iii) Tat- t’ou (s/o Tumen)
1st Khan: Tumen
2nd Khan: Isiki

3rd Khan: Mukan

4th Khan: Tapu

5th Khan: Shapur

Prominent Khans of first Turkish empire
 The Turkish empire gained its aggressive power under
the leadership of Gheri.
 Gheri was ultimately taken prisoner by the Chinese in
630 C.E.
 By this time, the Turks were divided into two distinct
branches:
(i) Eastern Turks
(ii) Western Turks
 The Western Turks had their chief encampment in the
Issikul region.
 The Western Turks’ relations with Persia were more
extensive than those with China.
 The Ghaznavis, Ghouris, Seljuqs and Ottomans came
from Western branch of Turks.