Кто читает:: Институт классического Востока и античности

Статус:: Курс обязательный

Когда читается:: 2-й курс, 1-3 модуль

Abstract

This graduate seminar offers a comprehensive and critical examination of the history of the Turkic peoples from their earliest origins in the Eurasian steppes to their integration into the Islamic world. The course begins by exploring the geographical and ecological context of Inner Asia and the distinctive nomadic pastoralist way of life. It then traces the evolution of early steppe polities, analyzing their political, social, and economic structures through primary sources and archaeological findings. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to the multifaceted relationship between the Turks and Islam, covering the initial encounters, the gradual process of conversion, and the subsequent establishment of powerful Turco-Islamic states. By investigating key themes such as the continuity of steppe traditions, the nature of state formation, and the dynamics of cultural and religious change, the course provides students with a nuanced understanding of the foundational period of Turkic history and its enduring legacy

Learning Objectives

To provide a deep, critical understanding of the origins, ethnogenesis, and early history of the Turkic peoples
To analyze the political, social, and economic structures of pre-Islamic Turkic states and nomadic confederations
To examine the complex process of the Turkic peoples' conversion to Islam and their subsequent integration into the Dar al-Islam
To critically evaluate the continuity and transformation of pre-Islamic cultural and political traditions within early Islamic Turkic polities
To develop students' skills in analyzing and interpreting a range of primary and secondary sources

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students will critically analyze archaeological evidence (e.g., burial mounds/kurgans, art objects, settlement remains) to reconstruct social hierarchy and cultural exchange
Students will construct a basic ecological-economic model to explain the cyclical rise and fragmentation of early steppe polities
Students will trace the political chronology of the First and Second Türk Khaganates and the Uyghur Khaganate, identifying the key khagans and pivotal military/diplomatic events
Students will reconstruct the chronology and geography of the Arab-Muslim conquest of Transoxiana (Mā warā' al-nahr), identifying key battles, treaties, and the role of local Iranian (Sogdian, Khwarazmian) intermediaries
Students will trace the Seljuks' transformation from a frontier nomadic ghazi (warrior) confederation to a sprawling, sedentary imperial state ruling from Anatolia to Iran, identifying key rulers (Tughril, Alp Arslan, Malikshah) and their achievements.

Course Contents

The Steppe World: Geography, Ecology, and Early Nomadic Cultures
The Rise of the Türks and the First Steppe Empires
Pre-Islamic Turkic Culture, Religion, and Social Organization
The Encounter with Islam: Conquest, Conversion, and the Qarakhanids
The Great Turco-Islamic Empires: The Seljuks and their Legacy

Assessment Elements

Seminar Performance
Seminar performance assesses students’ regular preparation for classes, engagement with the assigned primary and secondary literature, ability to participate in academic discussion, and capacity to formulate and defend historical arguments. Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with the required readings, critically evaluate historiographical approaches, analyze primary sources, and respond constructively to arguments presented by the instructor and other students. The seminar grade is based on the overall quality and consistency of the student’s work throughout the course, rather than on the sheer frequency of participation. Particular attention is paid to the accuracy of factual knowledge, understanding of the assigned literature, analytical depth, use of evidence, and clarity of oral argumentation.
Final Oral Examination
The final oral examination assesses the student’s comprehensive understanding of the course and ability to construct a coherent historical argument in oral form. Examination questions may address specific historical periods, processes, sources, or broader comparative problems covered during the course. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of relevant chronology, geographical and political contexts, key concepts, primary sources, and major historiographical debates. A successful answer should not consist solely of factual recall: students should be able to establish causal relationships, compare historical phenomena, evaluate different scholarly interpretations, and support their arguments with concrete examples from the course material. Follow-up questions may be used to clarify the student’s argument, test understanding of related topics, or assess the ability to apply course concepts to unfamiliar historical problems.

Interim Assessment

2026/2027 2nd module
1 * Seminar Performance
2026/2027 3rd module
0.6 * Seminar Performance + 0.4 * Final Oral Examination

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Antonio Sagona, & Paul Zimansky. (2009). Ancient Turkey. Routledge.
Soucek, Svat. A History of Inner Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2000. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=218045.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Khazanov, A. M. (1994). Nomads and the Outside World. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.E41584C8

Authors

Alontsev Maksim Albertovich

Магистерская программа «Классический и современный Восток: языки, культуры, религии»

Контакты

Pre-islamic and Early Islamic History of Turkic Peoples

Course Syllabus