Turks in Central Asia

How did the Turks spread from their Central Asian homeland in prolonged waves of migration—due to climate change and drought—westward to Anatolia, eastward to China, and southward to India? Who established the Huns, and how was their state founded under the leadership of Teoman and Mete in this homeland?

🐎 TURKS IN CENTRAL ASIA (MIGRATIONS)

(Homeland of the Turks and Migrations)

The ancestral homeland of the Turks is **Central Asia**. At that time, the borders of Central Asia extended to the Kingan Mountains in the east, the Altay Mountains in the north, the Karanlık (Kunlun) and Hindu Kush mountains in the south, and the Caspian Sea in the west. The Turks mostly gathered in the region between the Altay Mountains, the Pamir Plateau, and the Caspian Sea.
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Causes of the Migrations

These regions were initially characterized by very favorable climatic conditions, and the Turks lived there in an advanced civilization. Over time, as temperatures rose, Central Asia **began to dry out**. Frequent **sandstorms** made the area uninhabitable.

For this reason, the Turks gradually **began to migrate** from Central Asia in search of better places. These migrations lasted for years.

Directions of Migration

The migrations primarily occurred in the east, west, and south directions:

• Those who went East: To China.
• Those who went South: To Afghanistan and India.
• Those who went West: They spread to Iran, Mesopotamia, **Anatolia**, Syria, and Egypt, as well as Southern Russia and Central Europe.

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The Huns

After the migrations, while a large portion of the people in Central Asia migrated to more favorable countries, some remained in the livable parts of the region. These people established the **Hun state** there.

• Early Period: They gathered around the Orkhon and Selenga Rivers and lived as separate clans. They later united and began attacking Chinese territories.
• Teoman and Mete: The state grew stronger with **Teoman** becoming the ruler. The Huns’ biggest neighbors were the Chinese, and the two states constantly fought; the Turks were always victorious. Especially during the time of **Teoman and Mete**, the Turks inflicted many defeats on the Chinese.
• Result: Eventually, the Chinese agreed to pay tribute. However, as the Huns weakened, the Chinese shattered the state through various intrigues.