TURK

Turk nation’s history is as old as history of humanbeings. Turk term was being used since first eras and existed as the name of tribes unity. Numberless scientists researched the source of Turk term s ince Turks have very rich and old culture and past. The results of these serious researchs show that the Turk term was first used in BC XIV as Tik or Tiks. Another theory is that Turk term was existed before BC XIV too. This thesis support by old records. Since Turk nation is as old as history of humanbeings; there are several theisis about Turk term. These are :

TARGITABS ( Mentioned by Heredot as an eastern tribe )

TYRKAES ( Lived in Iskit lands )

TOGARMAS ( Mentioned in Tevrat )

TURUKHAS OR THRAKS ( Mentioned in old Indian sources )

TURUKKUS ( Mentioned in old Asia sources )

TIKS OR DIS ( Lived in BC 1. Mentioned in Chinese sources )

Zend-Avesta dissertations of Iran origin Islamic sources and also Tevrat claim that prophet Nuh’s grandson Turk ( son of Yafes ) and Feridun’s son Turac are the ancestors of Turk nation. Avesta mentiones about Ebul Baser, Cemil and his son Feridun. Feridun allotmented his country between three sons. Salma, Irak and Turak ( Turk ). Salma’s country is current Iran, Irak’s country is current Irak and Turak’s ( Turk’s ) country is current Central Asia and China. When Feridun died Irak confiscated Iran. Then made war with Turuk but could not win. The war continoued between their grandsons too. At last Turak’s grandson won the war against Irak’s grandson Afrasyap. They agreed to make Ceyhun river as border. After this agreement east of Ceyhun named as TURAN and west of Ceyhun as IRAN.

Tevrat tells that after Nuh cataclysm prophet Nuh allotmented the world between his 3 sons. Yafes had got Central Asia and China. Before his death Yafes gave his kingdom to TURK who was one of his eight sons.

It is seen that the oldest  historical sources talk about Turak ( Turk ), Iran-Turan war, Alper Tunga and Saka Empire’s Khan where all lived in close times to prophet Adam. All these mithological and historical datas include Turk term and it proofs how old is this term. Tiks ( BC XIV) and Anays ( BC VII ) which is the oldest civilisation of history formed by Turks. Therefore Turks involve in historical datas with Tiks in BC VII and with Sakas in BC IV.

The first written Turk term is seen as Tu-Kiu in Chinese history ( BC 1328 ).  Also we see that Roma Empire’s author Pompeius Meala mentiones about a Turcae nation in BC I,  who lived in north of Azac Sea. Kok-Turk government in BC VI carried Turk term to history scene. The Orhun Stonebooks mentiones about Turk term as Turuk. Therefore it is known that Kok-Turk Empire is the first government talked about Turk term. In the first perid of Kok-Turks, Turk term was being used  to identify a government. Later Turk term was being used to identify Turk nation. 

Chinese Emperor declamated to Kok-Turk Kagan Isbara as “ Great Turk Kgan “ in his letter when he wrote in AC 585. And Kgan Isbara writes in his reponse that “ 50 years passed after God formed Turk Government “. These declamations officialised Turk term. Turk term mostly involves as Turk Budun in kok-Turk Stonebooks. Turk Budun means Turk Nation. Therefore in this period; Turk term was being used to indicate a political belonging instead of a tribe.  So, Turk term became a national term to identify all tribes and socities lineal from Turk family.

Source : Prof. Dr. Ibrahim KAFESOGLU