The Myth of Turkic Origins and the Real Iranic Legacy
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
As an Iranian-American who has lived through the upheavals of both Islamic and secular worlds, my journey has led me to reflect deeply on the historical and cultural distinctions between the peoples of Turan and the ancient Iranic civilizations. The notion that the Turks are more closely related to Iranic peoples, like the Scythians (Saka), Persians (Parsi), Alans, and Medes, is not only misleading but also a distortion of the rich, complex history that predates the rise of the Turkic peoples by millennia. While historical narratives have often conflated these groups, it is essential to separate fact from fiction in understanding the origins of the peoples of Iran and Central Asia.
Turan vs. Iran: A Distinctive Divide
To begin, let us first define the key terms that are often used interchangeably but, in reality, have distinct meanings. Iran, with its rich and ancient civilization, is the land of the Iranic peoples. The term “Iranic” refers to a group of ancient peoples who spoke languages belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. These people—such as the Persians, Medes, Parthians, Alans, Sarmatians, and Scythians—had a profound influence on the development of civilization in the ancient Near East, including the founding of the Persian Empire.
In contrast, Turan is the land traditionally associated with Turkic and Mongolic peoples, many of whom were originally pastoral nomads. These peoples—ranging from the Huns to the Mongols and Turks—came from Central Asia and the steppes, regions that are geographically and culturally distinct from the heartlands of ancient Iran. The Altaic peoples, including the Turks, Mongols, and Huns, are more closely related to the East Asian and Siberian populations than to the Iranic groups.
The Scythians, Parthians, and the Migration to Iran
The Iranic peoples, such as the Scythians, Parthians, and Medes, originated in what is now modern-day Iran and the broader Central Asia region. These peoples were part of the greater Indo-Iranian migration that began around 2,000 BCE. The Scythians, for example, were known for their nomadic lifestyle, hunting practices, and expert horse-riding, but they were not a sedentary civilization in the same sense as the Persians or Medes, who went on to establish empires that spanned vast territories.
Over the centuries, many Iranic nomadic tribes migrated from the steppes of Turan into the settled lands of Iran. The Parthians, descendants of the ancient Scythians, represent one of the last significant waves of this migration. They eventually formed a powerful empire that dominated Persia for centuries, but their roots remain tied to the nomadic, pastoral traditions of Turan.
This migration and assimilation of the Iranic nomads into the Persian heartlands does not imply any cultural or linguistic merger with the Turkic peoples of Central Asia. The Parthians, though closely related to the Scythians, were still distinct in their cultural practices, religious beliefs, and language, which was an ancient form of Persian, not Turkic.
The Altaic Peoples: Not Iranic
The Turks, Mongols, and Huns belong to the Altaic language family, which is fundamentally different from the Indo-Iranian family of languages. The Turkic peoples, for instance, originated in the eastern steppes of Asia, far removed from the land of the Iranic peoples. It is important to emphasize that these Altaic groups did not share the same cultural or genetic heritage as the Iranic peoples.
Over time, however, many of the Altaic peoples, through invasions and migrations, did come into contact with Iranic civilizations. This interaction led to the spread of the Persian language and culture across various Turkic-speaking regions, particularly through the establishment of the Persianate culture by rulers such as the Seljuks and later the Ottomans. Some of these Turkic peoples, like the Hazara in Afghanistan, adopted Persian language and customs, becoming what we call Persianates—speakers of Persian who are not genetically Iranic.
The Legacy of the Iranic Nomads
It is also important to highlight that while the Altaic peoples eventually dominated the Iranic world through military conquest, the Iranic peoples' legacy remains distinct and influential. The Iranic nomads, such as the Scythians, were pioneers of horseback riding, warfare, and the art of metalworking. They laid the groundwork for many of the cultural achievements that would later define the Iranian empires, including the Achaemenid and Sassanian empires.
As an Iranian-American, I find it troubling that in modern discussions, there is often an attempt to equate the Iranic peoples with the Turkic invaders. These narratives obscure the historical fact that the Iranic civilization was one of the oldest and most influential in the ancient world, with its roots extending far beyond the arrival of the Turkic peoples. The Turkic invasions were merely a later chapter in the broader history of the region.
Conclusion
The distinction between the Iranic peoples and the Turkic, Mongolic, and Altaic peoples is critical for understanding the complex and diverse history of Iran and Central Asia. The ancient Iranic peoples—whose legacy shaped civilizations long before the rise of the Turks—are not the same as the Turkic invaders who later entered the region. While there was some cultural and linguistic exchange over the centuries, the Iranic peoples remain a distinct group with their own civilization and history. The land of Iran is the cradle of the Iranic civilization, while Turan is home to peoples who, though sharing some historical interactions with the Iranic world, remain fundamentally different in their origins and cultural practices.
Citations
- The History of the Scythians, Encyclopedia Iranica. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/scythians
- Bivar, A. D. H. “The Parthian Empire,” The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 3. Cambridge University Press, 1983.
- Barthold, W. “Turkestan down to the Mongol Invasion,” The Cambridge History of Central Asia, Volume 2. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
- Golden, P. B. “Central Asia: The Age of the Steppe Nomads,” The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
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