The True Origins of the Turks: Separating Fact from Fiction

The True Origins of the Turks: Separating Fact from Fiction

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 question of Turkish origins is one of history’s most complex and controversial topics, often muddled by myths, misconceptions, and nationalistic claims. As an Iranian-American ex-Muslim and former leader within Muslim organizations, I’ve seen how ideological and religious identities can sometimes obscure historical truths. Today, I write as a conservative Christian with a genuine interest in exploring the origins of the Turkish people—not from the lens of modern political agendas, but with a focus on historical evidence.

For centuries, some in the Turkish nationalist camp have claimed descent from the ancient Scythians, a noble warrior group with deep ties to the steppes of Central Asia. This notion, however, doesn’t hold up under historical scrutiny. The Turks' roots are far more nuanced and varied, connecting to ancient Central Asian tribes, early Mongolic peoples, and the cultural influences that shaped them over time. Understanding the true origins of the Turks requires diving into the historical, linguistic, and archaeological evidence that paints a vivid picture of a proud people with distinct origins.

1. The Myth of Turkish-Scythian Descent

The idea of a Scythian-Turkish lineage has gained traction in certain circles, especially among nationalistic historians seeking to build a legacy of ancient nobility for the Turks. However, the Scythians were Iranian-speaking nomads whose culture and language differ greatly from the Turkic peoples. Historical evidence places the Scythians as part of the Iranian world, distinct from Turkic groups who appeared in historical records at a later time. Archaeological studies have shown that Scythians spoke an Eastern Iranian language, while Turkic languages developed from an entirely different linguistic family, the Altaic family, which connects them more closely to groups from Mongolia and southern Siberia rather than the Iranian plateauAsia: The Birthplace of Turkic Peoples

The most widely accepted origins of the Turks trace back to the Central Asian region, particularly areas around the Altai Mountains, which span parts of modern-day Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Archaeological and genetic evidence points to the emergence of Turkic tribes in this region between the 2nd and 6th centuries CE. These early Turkic groups likely descended from a blend of various nomadic cultures in Central Asia, such as the Xiongnu and Dingling, who themselves emerged as distinct ethnic groups due to the harsh and isolated environment of the steppe.

The early Turkic people, known as Göktürks, were first recorded in Chinese historical documents around the 6th century CE. The Göktürks founded one of the first Turkic empires, solidifying the Turks’ presence in Central Asia and setting the stage for later Turkic expansions across Asia and into the Middle East and Anatolia. Unlike the Scythians, who were heavily Iranianized, the Turks were deeply influenced by the Mongolic and Siberian tribes that neighbored them in the vast steppes .

3. Linguisce and Cultural Divergence

Linguistic evidence also strongly suggests that the Turks originated independently of the Scythians. Turkic languages belong to the Altaic language family, which also includes Mongolic and Tungusic languages. By contrast, the Scythian language, as mentioned, belongs to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family. This difference highlights a distinct cultural and ethnic development that separates the Turks from the Scythians, reinforcing the idea that the Turks were a unique people with an origin grounded in Central Asia.

One of the fascinating aspects of early Turkic culture was their strong tradition of oral poetry and their unique script—the Orkhon script—which they developed as an early form of writing. Found in Mongolia, this script bears little resemblance to any Scythian cultural elements, once again affirming the Turks' unique heritage .

4. The Turkish MigrAssimilation of Other Cultures

As the Turks migrated from Central Asia, they assimilated with a variety of cultures, including the Persian, Byzantine, and Arab worlds. By the time the Seljuk Turks entered Anatolia in the 11th century, they had adopted elements of Persian culture and Islam, a process that continued with the later Ottoman Empire. This assimilation resulted in the Turks of Anatolia becoming ethnically and culturally distinct from their Central Asian ancestors.

Turkish claims of Scythian descent often ignore the profound cultural transformations that shaped the Turks over centuries. By the time of the Ottoman Empire, the Turks had intermarried with local Anatolian populations, resulting in a highly mixed population that was culturally distinct from their Turkic ancestors of the steppes. This intermixing is supported by genetic studies, which show that modern Turks in Anatolia have as much in common genetically with Greek and Armenian populations as with Central Asian Turkic peoples .

Conclusion: Embracing the Unage of the Turks

The Turks’ true origin lies in the diverse and resilient cultures of the Central Asian steppes, not in the Scythians or any other Indo-Iranian group. The historical evidence—ranging from archaeological findings to linguistic data—supports the conclusion that the Turks were a people of Central Asia, shaped by the harsh conditions of the steppe and later influenced by the many great civilizations they encountered. Recognizing and celebrating this unique heritage allows us to appreciate the genuine history of the Turks, free from myths that seek to mold history to fit modern narratives.

As a Christian conservative Iranian-American with an interest in historical accuracy, I believe that the true origins of peoples like the Turks should be honored and preserved in their authentic form. Nationalistic myths only serve to cloud our understanding of history and deprive us of the genuine richness that each culture brings to the human story.

References

1. Beckwith, C. I. (2009). Empires of the Silk Road: A History of Central Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the Present. Princeton University Press.
2. Golden, P. B. (1992). An Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples: Ethnogenesis and State-Formation in Medieval and Early Modern Eurasia and the Middle East. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag.
3. Sinor, D. (1990). The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia. Cambridge University Press.
4. Vovin, A. (2007). Once Again on the Altaic Hypothesis. Central Asiatic Journal, 51(2), 47–72.
5. Cavalli-Sforza, L. L., Menozzi, P., & Piazza, A. (1994). The History and Geography of Human Genes. Princeton University Press.