FRONT TURKS (QUOTE,DIR)

   The Pre-Turks, who existed in the historical periods before the Gokturks (before the 6th century) and had some social characteristics later adopted by the Turks, spoke languages ​​belonging to the Turkish Language Family and were matriarchal; however, they are the communities that are estimated to be patriarchal with the influence of the surrounding societies [1].

According to the French Turcologist Jean Paul Roux, he accepts that the word "Tue'kue"[2] mentioned in ancient Chinese writings means Turk and argues that it is possible to trace the "Turk" phenomenon back to the centuries BC.[3] However, most western scholars do not use the word "Turk" for the period before the emergence of the Göktürk Khanate in the middle of the 6th century AD, and call the peoples older than this and related to the Turks Proto[4] Turk or Pre-Turk.

Pre-Turkic communities

In addition to the most famous Proto-Turks, the Scythians, some historical communities whose history is described in Chinese annals and still only known by their Chinese names are considered to be Proto-Turks[2]. The most well-known of these are: Hiung-nu, Usun, Tukyu (Tue'kue, Tuyku or Tu'kut), Beiti, Dwarves, Ti, Tili, Tiele (Dingling). Toles in history books originating from Turkey) and I li.[2]

The way of life in the Pre-Turks

A view from the Selenga region, where the Proto Turks lived in history

Steppe

Main article: Steppe empire

The Turks, who are thought to have descended from Siberia and today's Russian plains to the Central Asian steppes due to reasons such as geographical necessities and climate changes, have experienced a transition period from forest hunting to nomadic herding. The fact that the words related to forestry and forest life in the Turkish language are older than the words in the steppe life and that horses with the appearance of reindeer were removed in the Pazirik Kurgan confirms this process. Due to geographical conditions and climatic changes or unknown reasons, most of the Turkish tribes have moved from settled and forestry life to steppe life and have somehow adapted to steppe life.

Today's East Turkestan, Mongolia and Altai regions are thought to have been the homeland of the Turks in the Ancient and early Middle Ages. This area; It is a plateau varying between 1200 and 1400 meters. The height of the Altai Mountains is more than 4600 meters in this land, which consists of great depressions and heights. The region where Ötüken is located is around 4000 meters. The area where the Jungarya and Gobi Desert are located receives less than 100 millimeters of precipitation per year. In today's East Turkestan, Mongolia and Altai regions, the annual precipitation does not exceed 200 millimeters. In winter, the cold is severe: it drops to -50 degrees. Most of the winter is under the ground snow. The weather can be very hot in the summer or a storm can be seen in bad years. There are meadows at the foot of the heights covered with dense spruce, pine and fir forests. In the hollow places, there are wooded grasslands and bushes. The lands going from these regions towards China and the lands heading towards Iran are covered with endless steppes and deserts. In the Siberian regions close to Altai, there is a taiga climate.

In communities living in such an area in the Ancient and Middle Ages, the basis of the economy is based on animal husbandry. Horse and sheep breeding is mostly done in the wide steppes. In addition to these, camels and cattle are also fed. The wool of the sheep is bent to make a rope and carpets and rugs are produced from it. Due to the Andronova and Afanasyevo cultural remains, scholars point to Central Asia as the homeland of carpet.

Especially in the nomadic societies, which constitute the majority of the Central Asian population, animal husbandry was at the forefront. For this reason, human communities living nomadic life in the steppes of Central Asia would migrate on a certain route by determining summer areas and winter areas. Migrations were not random. The places to migrate and the routes followed were predetermined. Due to such a Steppe life, the Twelve Animal Calendar developed. This calendar; It depends on the cycle between the sun and the moon and natural events such as "deer berry", "birth of an animal", "return of a migratory bird".

In steppe life, there was not much desire for vegetables. Made from milk millet, cheese, yoghurt, and mare's milk, kumiss was the staple food of Central Asian communities. The need to preserve horse and mutton led to the development of "primitive canning". "Clover" and "millet" had a great importance in nomadic communities.

Cars and Tents

A dormitory in Central Asia

Any occasional or seasonal journeys were made by cold-based camels, carts, or "sledges" called "two-humped camels". "Sledges" are mentioned in inscriptions and are also depicted with carved pictures. Camels were mostly used in trade. In migrations between the highland and winter quarters, cars with animals were preferred. These means of transport reigned unrivaled in the life of the steppe. These wagons were pulled by oxen and, less frequently, camels. The dimensions of these wagons were quite large, as found in a tomb in the Pazirik Kurgan.