Gök Türk Tarihi Coğrafyası

Abstract

One of the subjects mentioned seldom on Gok-Turk studies is the infrastructure of the resources which has fed the pre-Islamic Turkic Culture. Places where the step borders and the agricultural civilizations intersect cause some synthesis which could be traced not only from the archeological data but also cultures, such as war materials and tactics, bureaucratic language and the dresses. Article is majored on two main geographies: First, south Siberia and Mongolia region where the Turks created their original materials. This geography’s life style and beliefs had a direct effect on the art objects created by the nomads. The influence of agrarian societies here is on minimum levels. Second geography is where Gok-Turks have had interactions with settled (agrarian) societies on political and cultural levels. There are two major cultures here; first China over Ordos and second Iran over Tengri Mountains. Once the interregional relations detailed, association of urbans with nomads; is more than barbarian – civilized dilemma which was created in our imagination. Sogdians have always preferred the Gok Turks patronage to Sassanid’s. And wise leaders of Tangs and Turks such as Tai Tsung and Bilge, have prefer sustainable commercial and cultural relations rather than war or looting policy. Examining all three regions in the same article would increase the size of the research so we decided to divide into two parts: the article reading, consists isolated areas (such as western Mongolia and southern Siberia) and one of the transition area: Tengri mountains and its hinterland. Our next study will be about Ordos where Turks and Chinese culture were mixed.