Looking at Turkic History from the Perspective of Dynasties

• Published in: Türkiyat mecmuası Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 229 - 238
• Main Author: İbrahim Tellioğlu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istanbul University Press 01.06.2023
• Subjects: classification; dynasties; historiography; marginalization; turks
• ISSN: 2651-3188
• DOI: 10.26650/iuturkiyat.1263093

Turks have made a difference in history with the states they have established in different geographies throughout history. The states Turks have established over a wide area stretching from the border of China to the interior of Europe and from the Siberian plains to the north of India have been the subject of studies by historians for more than two millennia. One of the most important issues in dealing with Turkic history is dealing with Turkic states through dynasties.While some historians look at the issues in terms of the period they are studying, they may not be able to deal with the integrity of the geography with which they are dealing within Turkish history. For instance, a New Age historian who perceives the Aq Qoyunlu State as a state that had dominated Iran without following the past activities of the Bayındıriye clan may misunderstand the issue. A medieval historian who lacks a good background on antiquity may think the Turkish presence in Anatolia or Azerbaijan starts with the Seljuks. Likewise, researchers specializing in a particular geographic area may not see the extensions of the dynasty in that region elsewhere. Again, some researchers who are unable to follow the contributions of the Turkmens who’d migrated from Anatolia have the shortcoming of accepting the Safavids as a state of Iranian origin. Another issue regarding Turkic historiography is how dynasty-based studies can perceive another Turkic dynasty as an enemy. Various sources’ use of marginalized expressions about Turkic states such as the Ottomans, Timurids, Safavids, Aq Qoyunlus, and Mamluks due to political rivalry is problematic in terms of a holistic view of Turkish history. Although a medieval or New Age historian could be excused in terms of the history writing technique of that time, avoiding such approaches is the healthiest way with regard to contemporary Turkic historiography. Zeki Velidi Togan was one of the pioneers of General Turkish History in Türkiye, and the assessment he made while classifying Turkic historical sources is very valuable in this respect.