The Altaic Peoples and the Distinct Legacy of the Iranic Scythians

Altaic Peoples

The Altaic Peoples and the Distinct Legacy of the Iranic Scythians

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS

The history of Central Asia and its peoples has long been a subject of fascination and misunderstanding. As an Iranian-American with a deep connection to my Scytho-Sarmatian ancestry, I feel compelled to address a pervasive misconception: the conflation of the Iranic Scythians with the Altaic peoples, such as the Huns, Turks, and Mongols. These groups, though they shared the vast Eurasian steppes, are fundamentally distinct in their cultural, linguistic, and historical identities.

Who Were the Iranic Scythians?

The Scythians, an ancient nomadic people, belonged to the Iranic branch of the Indo-European family. Their language, traditions, and societal structure were deeply rooted in the cultural ethos of the greater Iranian world, which extended from the steppes of Central Asia to the Persian plateau. Known for their mastery of mounted warfare, the Scythians left an enduring mark on the art, mythology, and governance of the ancient world.

Their burial mounds, or kurgans, reveal intricate gold artifacts and evidence of a sophisticated, horse-centered culture. They worshipped deities akin to those of the Avesta, the sacred Zoroastrian texts, and maintained a social hierarchy that reflected an early form of aristocratic organization.

Altaic Peoples: A Different Legacy

In stark contrast, the Huns, Turks, and Mongols belong to the Altaic language family, which includes Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic languages. These peoples originated in the regions of modern-day Mongolia and Siberia and expanded westward in waves of migration and conquest. Their societal structure was often more tribal and militaristic, with a focus on rapid conquest and subjugation rather than the cultivation of long-standing empires grounded in philosophical or religious systems akin to those of the Scythians.

The Huns, for example, under leaders like Attila, swept across Europe in the 5th century, leaving destruction in their wake. Similarly, the Mongols, under Genghis Khan and his descendants, created the largest contiguous land empire in history but did so through relentless warfare and the systematic destruction of established civilizations, including those of Iran.

Iranic Versus Altaic Worldviews

One of the key distinctions lies in their respective worldviews. The Scythians, as part of the Iranian cultural sphere, held a reverence for natural law and order, reflected in their Zoroastrian-inflected belief systems. This ethos emphasized the duality of good and evil, the sanctity of truth, and the importance of maintaining cosmic balance.

In contrast, Altaic traditions often revolved around shamanistic practices and animism, with an emphasis on the immediate needs of survival and dominance. The Altaic conquests were often marked by a pragmatic approach to religion, where conquerors adopted the faiths of their subjects (e.g., the Turks converting to Islam or the Mongols adopting Buddhism and Islam) primarily for political expediency.

The Impact on Iranic Civilization

The arrival of Altaic peoples into the Iranian heartlands brought profound changes, often to the detriment of the Iranic peoples. The Turkic Ghaznavids, Seljuks, and eventually the Ottoman Turks imposed their rule over much of the Iranian world, altering its cultural and linguistic landscape. The Mongol invasions in the 13th century decimated Iran, leading to the loss of countless lives and the destruction of centuries-old centers of learning and culture.

While the Iranic peoples have historically shown resilience, maintaining their identity through poetry, religion, and art, the Altaic incursions left scars that are still evident in the region's geopolitics and demographics.

Conclusion

The conflation of the Iranic Scythians with Altaic peoples such as the Huns, Turks, and Mongols is not only historically inaccurate but diminishes the unique contributions of each group to human civilization. Recognizing these distinctions is essential for appreciating the diverse tapestry of Eurasian history and for understanding the enduring legacy of the Iranic peoples, who, despite centuries of invasion and subjugation, continue to inspire through their cultural and spiritual heritage.

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Citations

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3. Di Cosmo, Nicola. Ancient China and Its Enemies: The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
4. Sinor, Denis. "The Mongols in Iran." Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 85, no. 2, 1965, pp. 121-130.
5. Frye, Richard N. The Heritage of Persia. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1962.
6. Mallory, J. P., and Victor H. Mair. The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of the Earliest Peoples from the West. Thames & Hudson, 2000.