Open-Source
Digital Encyclopedia
of the Turkic World

Much of history is told through great states and familiar names. Less often remembered are the smaller peoples — those whose languages still live in mountain valleys, steppe villages, and distant towns. Their historical places lie scattered across wide lands, from quiet riverbanks to highland passes and forgotten roads. This encyclopedia gathers what can still be known of their histories and ways of life.
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The Turkic World: Your Digital Gateway
Discover shared roots, languages, and a vibrant, diverse culture.
Related languages, diverse peoples
Explore a language family and the distinct histories of its speakers across Eurasia.
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From Siberian heartlands to Mediterranean shores, discover the peoples and cultures that shape the Turkic world. Your comprehensive guide to a rich, interconnected heritage awaits.
Emirate of BukharaBayatYoung turksGagauzGokturkNogaiUyghurKhalajZangezur
Emirate of BukharaBayatYoung turksGagauzGokturkNogaiUyghurKhalajZangezur
Emirate of BukharaBayatYoung turksGagauzGokturkNogaiUyghurKhalajZangezur
Emirate of BukharaBayatYoung turksGagauzGokturkNogaiUyghurKhalajZangezur
UzbekistanKazakhstanAzerbaijanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanTurkey
UzbekistanKazakhstanAzerbaijanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanTurkey
UzbekistanKazakhstanAzerbaijanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanTurkey
UzbekistanKazakhstanAzerbaijanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanTurkey

  • Turkmenistan

    A nation of neutrality, deep history, and unique traditions.

  • Turkey

    Where East meets West, a bridge between continents and a hub of dynamic growth.

  • Kazakhstan

    The land of the Great Steppe, a nation of vast resources and ambitious vision.

  • Uzbekistan

    The cradle of ancient Silk Road civilization, home to legendary cities like Samarkand and Bukhara.

  • Azerbaijan

    The Land of Fire, where ancient Zoroastrian heritage meets modern energy power.

  • Kyrgyzstan

    The land of celestial mountains, preserving a rich nomadic culture and breathtaking natural beauty

The Turkic World in Detail & Modern Cities

Timurid-Egyptian envoy scene by BehzadPortrait of Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the UzbeksConquest of Baghdad by Timur, from Zafarnama (Book of Victories)The Battle of MohácsFuneral of Sultan Murad IILion Hunt of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1615Construction of the Fort of Kharnaq, by Kamal-ud-din BihzadMughal Troops in Pursuit of the Armies of Da'udPage from the Jahangir Album with calligraphy by Mir Ali, circa 1600Emperor Shah Jahan on Horseback, from the Shah Jahan Album, circa 1630Pictorial Genealogy of the Descendants of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1623-27Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part A)Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part B)Siege of Nakhchivan, from the SüleymannamePortrait of the Scholar Taqi al-Din
Timurid-Egyptian envoy scene by BehzadPortrait of Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the UzbeksConquest of Baghdad by Timur, from Zafarnama (Book of Victories)The Battle of MohácsFuneral of Sultan Murad IILion Hunt of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1615Construction of the Fort of Kharnaq, by Kamal-ud-din BihzadMughal Troops in Pursuit of the Armies of Da'udPage from the Jahangir Album with calligraphy by Mir Ali, circa 1600Emperor Shah Jahan on Horseback, from the Shah Jahan Album, circa 1630Pictorial Genealogy of the Descendants of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1623-27Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part A)Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part B)Siege of Nakhchivan, from the SüleymannamePortrait of the Scholar Taqi al-Din
Timurid-Egyptian envoy scene by BehzadPortrait of Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the UzbeksConquest of Baghdad by Timur, from Zafarnama (Book of Victories)The Battle of MohácsFuneral of Sultan Murad IILion Hunt of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1615Construction of the Fort of Kharnaq, by Kamal-ud-din BihzadMughal Troops in Pursuit of the Armies of Da'udPage from the Jahangir Album with calligraphy by Mir Ali, circa 1600Emperor Shah Jahan on Horseback, from the Shah Jahan Album, circa 1630Pictorial Genealogy of the Descendants of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1623-27Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part A)Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part B)Siege of Nakhchivan, from the SüleymannamePortrait of the Scholar Taqi al-Din
Timurid-Egyptian envoy scene by BehzadPortrait of Muhammad Shaybani, Khan of the UzbeksConquest of Baghdad by Timur, from Zafarnama (Book of Victories)The Battle of MohácsFuneral of Sultan Murad IILion Hunt of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1615Construction of the Fort of Kharnaq, by Kamal-ud-din BihzadMughal Troops in Pursuit of the Armies of Da'udPage from the Jahangir Album with calligraphy by Mir Ali, circa 1600Emperor Shah Jahan on Horseback, from the Shah Jahan Album, circa 1630Pictorial Genealogy of the Descendants of Emperor Jahangir, circa 1623-27Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part A)Accession of Sultan Selim II to the Throne (Part B)Siege of Nakhchivan, from the SüleymannamePortrait of the Scholar Taqi al-Din
KazanKazan
AlmatyAlmatyIstanbulIstanbul
Mazar-e-SharifMazar-e-Sharif
TashkentTashkentBakuBakuAstanaAstanaAshgabatAshgabatAnkaraAnkara
UrumqiUrumqi
KazanKazan
AlmatyAlmatyIstanbulIstanbul
Mazar-e-SharifMazar-e-Sharif
TashkentTashkentBakuBakuAstanaAstanaAshgabatAshgabatAnkaraAnkara
UrumqiUrumqi
KazanKazan
AlmatyAlmatyIstanbulIstanbul
Mazar-e-SharifMazar-e-Sharif
TashkentTashkentBakuBakuAstanaAstanaAshgabatAshgabatAnkaraAnkara
UrumqiUrumqi
KazanKazan
AlmatyAlmatyIstanbulIstanbul
Mazar-e-SharifMazar-e-Sharif
TashkentTashkentBakuBakuAstanaAstanaAshgabatAshgabatAnkaraAnkara
UrumqiUrumqi

How to contribute

  • Asilbek Madiev

    Asilbek Madiev

    Founder

    A number of smaller peoples remain poorly documented. Turkion keeps their languages and histories accessible and makes sources visible so the material can be checked and improved.
  • For researchers

    For researchers

    Research review

    Check dates and historical claims against primary or academic sources. Suggest precise corrections and references for draft articles.
  • For contributors

    For contributors

    Writing and translation

    Use the contributor guide to prepare sourced articles and translations. Drafts are marked until they receive specialist review.

Turkestan Series

The Turkestan Series of paintings was created during two expeditions to Central Asia in 1867–1868 and 1869–1870, as well as in Paris during the winter of 1868–1869 and in Munich between 1871 and 1873. In the summer of 1867, V. V. Vereshchagin learned that General Konstantin Petrovich Kaufman—newly appointed as the Governor-General of Turkestan and Commander of the Turkestan Military District—was seeking an artist to join his entourage. Through friends, Vereshchagin secured a meeting with the Governor-General and presented his Caucasian sketches. Kaufman was intrigued by the young man and commissioned him into service with the rank of ensign (praporshchik). Notably, Vereshchagin negotiated the right to abstain from wearing a military uniform and received a guarantee that he would not be considered for further promotions.
The Apotheosis of War, 1872, Oil on canvas
The Apotheosis of War, 1872, Oil on canvas
They are Triumphant, 1872, Oil on canvas
They are Triumphant, 1872, Oil on canvas
They Attack Unaware, 1871, Oil on canvas
They Attack Unaware, 1871, Oil on canvas
Envoys. "Surrender!" — "Go to hell!", 1873, Oil on canvas
Envoys. "Surrender!" — "Go to hell!", 1873, Oil on canvas
At the Fortress Walls. Let them Enter, 1871, Oil on canvas
At the Fortress Walls. Let them Enter, 1871, Oil on canvas
Kyrgyz tent on the Chu River, 1869—1870, Oil on canvas
Kyrgyz tent on the Chu River, 1869—1870, Oil on canvas
They are spying on the enemy, 1873, Oil on canvas
They are spying on the enemy, 1873, Oil on canvas
Mullah Rahim and Mullah Kerim on his way to the bazaar are quarreling, 1873, Oil on canvas
Mullah Rahim and Mullah Kerim on his way to the bazaar are quarreling, 1873, Oil on canvas
Shir Dor madrasah in Registan Square in Samarkand, 1869 - 1870, Oil on canvas
Shir Dor madrasah in Registan Square in Samarkand, 1869 - 1870, Oil on canvas
Mausoleum of Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand, 1869 - 1870, Oil on canvas
Mausoleum of Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand, 1869 - 1870, Oil on canvas

Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts

Battle of TalasBattle of TalasByzantine–Seljuk warsByzantine–Seljuk warsMongol conquestsMongol conquestsRise of the Ottoman EmpireRise of the Ottoman EmpireTimurTimurOttoman–Habsburg warsOttoman–Habsburg warsRusso-Kazan WarsRusso-Kazan WarsOttoman–Persian WarsOttoman–Persian WarsFirst Battle of PanipatFirst Battle of PanipatTurkish War of IndependenceTurkish War of Independence
Battle of TalasBattle of TalasByzantine–Seljuk warsByzantine–Seljuk warsMongol conquestsMongol conquestsRise of the Ottoman EmpireRise of the Ottoman EmpireTimurTimurOttoman–Habsburg warsOttoman–Habsburg warsRusso-Kazan WarsRusso-Kazan WarsOttoman–Persian WarsOttoman–Persian WarsFirst Battle of PanipatFirst Battle of PanipatTurkish War of IndependenceTurkish War of Independence
Battle of TalasBattle of TalasByzantine–Seljuk warsByzantine–Seljuk warsMongol conquestsMongol conquestsRise of the Ottoman EmpireRise of the Ottoman EmpireTimurTimurOttoman–Habsburg warsOttoman–Habsburg warsRusso-Kazan WarsRusso-Kazan WarsOttoman–Persian WarsOttoman–Persian WarsFirst Battle of PanipatFirst Battle of PanipatTurkish War of IndependenceTurkish War of Independence
Battle of TalasBattle of TalasByzantine–Seljuk warsByzantine–Seljuk warsMongol conquestsMongol conquestsRise of the Ottoman EmpireRise of the Ottoman EmpireTimurTimurOttoman–Habsburg warsOttoman–Habsburg warsRusso-Kazan WarsRusso-Kazan WarsOttoman–Persian WarsOttoman–Persian WarsFirst Battle of PanipatFirst Battle of PanipatTurkish War of IndependenceTurkish War of Independence