Theme 2. Turkic stаtes on the territory of Kazakhstan in the VI-VIII cc

1. Turkic kaganate formation. Western Turkic, Turkesh, Karluk and Oghuz kaganates. The administrative government system, social structure and economy of the Turkics

2. Material and spiritual culture of the Turkics

1)At the end of the IV century nomadic tribes – Tuoba formed early feudal state –Wei in North China. It is considered that the dynasty comes from the clan Tuoba relating to the non-Chinese tribe of Syanbi. The clan Tuoba replaced the patrimonial name for Yuan in the course of a systematic Chinezaion.

In the middle of the IV century steppe kaganate Juan juan was formed in the East Asia. Juan juan led nomad life on the Halha river to Hingan hills. Khan’s Horde was at the Hangai. They did not have literature, written language. A Chinese chronicler reported that “Juan juans spoke in Syanbi, that is one of Mongol language dialect”.

In this period in the Western Mongolia (Zhungaria) nomadic tribes –Tele settled up to the Selenga river.

The Juan juan’s khan Shegun reigned from Hingan to the Altai mountains in the beginning of the V century. Having conquered Tele, he forced them to pay a tribute. Later Juan juans invaded into the territory of Eastern Turkestan.

It was written in Chinese sources “When Tuoba won a victory over the Hsiung-nu, Ashina and 500 families had escaped to Juan juan and settled in the South Altai mountains, mined iron for Juan juan”.

Accordingly, ancient Turkics had originated from non numerous people, who lived in South Altai at the head of Ashina in the V century. The Chinese called them “Tϋ-kϋ”. Later historians interpreted it as “Turk”, “Turkic”. The word “Turk” means “strong, intense”. The word “Ashina” means “wolf”. In Turkic “wolf” – “Bori” or “Kaskyr”, and in mongol “Shinochino”. In China “A” means prefix of respect. Respectively “Ashina” means “The generous wolf”. Later the name Ashina was used as the name of the Turkic dynasty. According to scientists’ opinions this word changed into ethnic name of a tribal union. Clan Ashina was the vassals of Juan juans until the middle of the VI century.

Generally, origin of Turkics is a major problem. Two legends about Turkic origin are in the Chinese source “Zhou name”. According to “Zhou name”: “Turkic people are from other offshoot of the Hsiung – nu. The name of the dynasty Ashina”. Also according to these legends the ancestors of the Turkic people were wiped out by their enemies. Only a ten-year old boy survived. Mutilated by his victors, he was rescued and fed by a she-wolf. When the boy grew up the she-wolf became his wife and gave birth to his ten sons. One of the sons was Ashina. Then he became a leader of a tribe to which he gave his name. Later they settled in the South Altai mountains and mined iron for Juan juans”.

The possession of Turkic tribes stretched from Altai to the Huang He river and they had been mentioned for the first time in the Chinese sources in 542.

By the middle of the VI century the empire Wei split up into two parts – Western and Eastern. Eastern Wei entered into an alliance with Juan juan khan Anagui and attacked Western Wei.

At that time the emperor of Western Wei Wen du looked for military ally against the Juan juan.

Ambassador Taizsu from Western Wei state arrived to Bumyn Horde in 545. According to the Chinese source “Zhou name” Turkics gave the ambassador a cordial welcome. Bumyn and Western Wei’s khan secretly entered into an alliance against the Juan juans.

Bumyn decided to take provocation. He made a request to Anagui to marry his daughter. It is reasonable that Anagui got angry when his slave asked the daughter for a wife.

Then Bumyn started the war against the Juan juans, which finished with a victory of the Turkics in 552. Anagui committed a suicide. Bumyn took the title of “Il-khan” (kagane) and his wife “Hatun”. He united all Turkic tribes in one state-Turkic kaganate. But Bumyn died at the end of 552. His successor was his son Kara Eske, who was able to rule only a few months. After Kara Eske, his brother Mukan came to the power. He was a savage, brave, clever ruler (553-572). Mukan’s successor was Taspar. The power of Turkics had extended in Central Asia, South Siberia, South-Western Manchuria, mongol tribes the Kidans and lands of Yenisei Kirgiz.

At the same time the Turkics went to West. A Western trip headed a young brother of Bumyn Istemi. During a short period Istemi reached the “Western Sea”. “The Western Sea” is now known as “The Aral Sea”. As Ferdowsi shows the border of Istemi’s possession is the following: “from China to banks of the Amu-Darya and the Syr-Darya and on that side of Tashkent”. Most of the trading towns on the Silk Road came under the control of the Turkics.

During the reign of Istemi and his successors Western Turkics reached from the upper lands of the Yenisei in Eastern Siberia in the North, to China and Iran in the South, from Korea in the East to the Black Sea in the West. Different states all subordinated to it, as the Chinese chronicle reports: “Our northern neighbours have never been more powerful”. Istemi entered into commercial and military union with Byzantium in 568. Also Istemi made a peace with Iran in 571, although their relations kept strained.

Taspar kagane in Eastern kaganate died in 581. The conflict had lasted for more than 20 years.

The struggle for the power coincided with Jute in 582-583. The final outcome was a spilt of the Turkic kaganate into two independent kaganates – Eastern and Western in 603.

During this time China (Dynasty Sui) was strenthening.

The Eastern kaganate occupied the Eastern lands of its predecessor up to the Chinese border, with its centre in the valley of the Orkhon river in Mongolia. The territory of Western Turkic kaganate reached including Zhungaria, a part of Eastern Turkestan, Wu-Sun lands (Zhetysu) from Eastern slopes of the Karatau. Its capital was in the trade and crafts centre in the valley of the Chu river - the town Suyab.

There are three points of view on the problem about the time of separation of Western Turkic kaganate from Eastern Turkic among the historians:

1)The Western Turkic kaganate had been existing as an independent state since 552. It’s the opinion of the Russian historians at the head with V.V.Barthold.

2)When Taspar died, in the 581-582 completed the final separation of Turkic kaganate into two states. At the head of this point of view is French historian Shavann.

3)The opinions of Kazakh and Chinese historians. The Western Turkic kaganate as an independent state had been existing since 603.

The two kaganates were markedly different. A nomadic way of life prevailed in the Eastern. A considerable part of the population in the Western kaganate was settled, engaging in handicrafts, agriculture and trade. In the Shu valley in the VI-VIIIcc. there were at least eighteen large towns and many small settlements. In the Western kaganate the supreme ruler was the kaganate, who ran internal and foreign policy. A second kagane was the ulug, who was followed by the yabgu. Also there were the titles as shad, el-teber, tegin and etc.

According to the Chinese sources in the Western Turkic kaganate there were 28 titles. However, the amount of titles depended on the territory of the kaganate. If the territory was large it meant there were more titles but if the territory was small it meant that there were fewer titles.

The main population was the simple people – “budun”-“black budun”.

The Western Turkic kaganate in the ancient Chinese sources found as “The state of ten arrows” (“On ok budun”). The tribal union Nushibi consisted of 5 tribes and Dulu of 5 tribes as well.

The best-known kaganes of the Western Turkic kaganate were Shegui (610-618) and Tong yabgu (618-630).

In 627-628 Tong yabgu participated personally in a campaign with the Byzantium Emperor Heraclius in the Caucasus, and the Turkics captured the towns of Derbent in North Caucasus, and Tbilisi. Tong yabgu was killed in 630. The internal war became intensive in the Western Turkics between Dulu and Nushibi. The internal war and the struggle of dynasty, which had lasted for nearly 17 years, finished with invasion of the Chinese troops to Western Turkic kaganate in 659.

At the end of the VII century when Western Turkic kaganate had been conquered by the Chineses (659) one of the strongest Turkic tribes –Turkeshes occupied two military area (region): Vu-lou –the upper valley of the Ili river and Go-shan – to the west from the Ili river. Turkeshes were the fourth tribe in the structure Dulu. “The history of dynasty Tan” reported “that Turkeshes divided into clans of blacks and yellows”.

The author of the important research “The Turkesh kaganate” (2007) A.Dauletkhan listed the structure of Dulu and Nushibi, where Turkeshes are the fourth tribe of Dulu.

The structure of Western Turkic kaganate (“On ok budun”)

The leader of the Turkeshes Uch-elig forcing out last representative of Ashina came to the power in the Western Turkic kaganate. It was 704, although a historian, professor A.Dauletkhan believes, that the time of formation of Turkesh kaganate is 692, when Turkeshes captured Sujab.

In connection with the death of Uch-elig in 706, his successor Sakal came to the power. If during the reign of Uch-elig there were the army of 140 000, then in the time of Sakal there were 300 000.

In this time Eastern Turkic kaganate was strengthening in the East. During the reign of Kapagan kagane (691-716) there was the highest rise of the military and political power of the Eastern Turkic kaganate. As a result of the successful campaigns against the Chinese army in the North China, the defeat of the mongol tribes- Kidans, the subordination of Tuva and the defeat of the Yenisei Kirgiz, Kapagan became the host (Mr) of Central Asia.

In the time of Sakal kagane (706-711) there began the first riots of the tribal aristocracy. Within the state of the Turkeshes there was not unity. A yonger brother of Sakal rebelled and asked for help from the Eastern Turkic kaganate. In 711 Eastern Turkic kaganate’s army at the head with the son of Kapagan Inel and a commander Tonukok defeated the Turkeshes in the battle on the river Boluchu. The brothers were executed by Kapagan.

Remnants of Turkeshes troops led by the commander Suluk retreated over the Syr-Darya and went to Tokhoristan. The troops of the Eastern Turkic kaganate which were commanded by the sons of Elterish kagane Bilge and Kultegin found themselves in the Sogda. There they participated in the battles against Arabs on the side of the Sogdians and retreated to Mongolia in 714.

Suluk also came back in the Zhetysu and proclaimed himself a kagane of Western Turkics.

Consequently, Suluk reestablished Western Turkic kaganate. However, the position of the kaganate remained extremaly difficult. Suluk had to fight on two fronts. China supported candidates from the Western Turkic dynasty kagane, who settled in the Eastern Turkestan. In the West the Arabs were a greater threat. First of all, Suluk decided to prevent a danger from the East. Suluk entered into a marriage with three dangerous possessors for him. He married the daughter of a

descendant from clan Ashina, consequently legalizing his power. His son married the daughter of Bilge kagane and also Suluk married the daughter of Tibet’s tsar.

The Turkeshes strengthened their operations in the West. They activily entered into antiarabian struggle of Middle Asia states in 720es-30es of the VIII century.

Suluk was killed by his commander. Death of Suluk and short reign of his son Tuhvarsen Kut-Chor (738-739) caused two decades of the powerful struggle between the “blacks” and the “yellows”. Using this situation Chinese troops captured one of the largest Western Turkic centre –Sujab in 748.

A large tribal union, repeatedly mentioned in runic inscriptions under the name Uch-Karluk (three tribes of Karluk), appears in the Chinese sources in the connection with the events of the first half of the VII century. They settled in the East in the highlands Otuken (Mongolia), in the East Turkestan the region Besbaliq, and settled in the South Tohoristan (North Afghanistan). Most of them occupied the territory between the Mongolian Altai and lake Balkhash, south and north of Tarbagatai.

The main part of the Karluk locating between the Eastern and Western kaganates always fought for their independence. After formation in 682 of the second Eastern Turkic kaganate, the Karluks were dependent on them. The first set out of the Karluk against Eastern Turkic refers to 711-712. According to ancient inscription in honor of Kultegin: “When Kultegin was 27, the Karluk people were (our) enemies”.

The generals of the Eastern Turkic kaganate undertook campaigns against the Karluks.

The Karluks’ desire of independence led them to move to Zhetysu in 746. At the time, the political situation in Zhetysu was extremely aggravated. In 748 the Chinese troops captured Sujab.

In July of 751 there was a momentous battle near Taraz at Atlakh between the Arabs and the Chineses. At the beginning for a few days opponents did not dare to enter the battle. On the fifth day of the siege the Karluks suddenly attacked at the rear of the Chinese, the Arabs began to attack from the front. Chinese army was annihilated. According to Chinese and Arabic sources Chinese army at the head Song Shin Co consisted of 100 thousand people. As pointed out N.Bichurin Chinese troops lost 50 thousand people in this battle. The battle lasted for 5 days.

The battle at Atlakh is known in the history as “The Battle of Talas” (751). This battle had great historic importance in the lives of the people of Central Asia. It put an end to attempts of the Chinese to interfere into Central Asian affairs until the middle of the XVIII century. The Arabs, too, could not stay in the Talas valley and retreated to Shash. The Karluks remained in pole position and played an important role in the defeat of China in the Talas battle.

In 766 early feudal Karluks’ state was formed in the Zhetysu. The Karluk tribes settled in the vast territory of Kazakhstan –from the Zhungar Alatau to the

middle course of the Syr-Darya and lived between the lakes Balkhash and Issyk-Kul, in the river valleys of the Shu, the Talas, the Ili.

The system of political government of Karluk state (The second half of the VII- until the middle of the IX cc.)

Yabgu

(The head of the state)

Kuderkyn

(The assistant of the Yabgu)

The leader of a tribal union

Eltabar

(The leader of clans union)

Sagun

(The head of the clans)

According to Arabian geographers Ibn-Haukal and Abu Dulaf it took 30 or 25 days to go through the bands of the Karluks from west to east.

Karluk state consisted of numerous tribal groups, which included the nomadic and semi-nomadic Turkic tribes, the Tukhsi, the Shigil, the Turkesh, the Charuk, the Barskhan and etc.

The supreme ruler had a title of Yabgu, but in 840 Bilge Kul Kadyr took a title of “Kagan”.

The initial territory of the Oghuzes was Zhetysu. In the middle of the VIII century there was a fight of the Karluks and the Oghuzes for Turkesh heritage owing to what in the middle of the VIII century the Oghuzes were forced out by the Karluks to the Syr-Darya region. Moved to Western Kazakhstan the Oghuzes in long fight against the tribes of Pechenegs won a victory and compelled them to remove further to the west. At the end of the IX century in the union with the Khazars they inflicted defeat to the Pechenegs and seized the interfluve of the Urals (the Zhaik) and the Volga (the Edil).

Political consolidation of the tribes and registration of Oghuz state resulted from rough events of the second half of the VIII – the end of the IX centuries. The first news about the state of the Oghuzes appear in Arabic-language historical and geographical compositions. The capital of Oghuz state was Yangikent lying on a joint of important caravan tracks.

The state of the Oghuzes was not monolithic. The Supreme governor carrying the title "zhabgu" ("yabgu") was the head of the state. Governors had co-governors and advisers. The power was descended. Elections of governors took place on councils. At the heart of election of zhabgu there was a privilege on the

power of senior age over younger. Successors of the governor were called "inals" and for their education in the childhood there appointed special trustees — "atabeks". The wives of governors carried the title "hatun" and played a significant role in court life. The important place was taken also by military leaders. The commander-in-chief of armies — "subashi" leaned on a war council and actively interfered in political events. Governors were chosen on the basis of the set of unwritten rules, a common law — "tore", of the most powerful clan. The Oguzhes’ state relied on military democracy. The people's assembly was convoked once a year. Due to the strengthening of the feudal aristocracy influence instead of people's assembly kol erkins began to convoke council of the nobility - kankash. With blossoming of Oguz’s society the supreme power of a country government began to belong to great and small kurultais. The evidence to that is the epic annalistic legend "Oghuz name" (XIII century). Zhabgu divided the estates into 12 aimaks.

In formation of Oghuzes’ state institutes, the tribal structure of society found reflection. The structure of the Oghuzes’ state included semi-nomad and nomad tribes of Zhetysu and Siberia: the Uyghurs, the Zhagras, the Charuks, the Karluks, the Imurs, the Bayabdurs, the Kais. Formation of an Oghuzes’ ethnic community was difficult and long. According to Mahmoud Kashgari (XI century) the Oghuzes divided into 24 tribes, out of them 12 tribes— the Bouzouks, 12 tribes — the Uchuks. The Bouzouks used great privileges. Judging by historical legends, the Bouzouki referred to the right wing, to "seniors", and the Uchuks – to "younger" tribes of the left wing. The Bouzouks used the privileges when "electing" the Supreme khan.

Large tribal unions at Oghuzes were called "Il" that meant "people" and "state". In despite of difficult tribal structures, at the heart of Oghuzes’ society there were economic and territorial communications but not family relation.

Among the Oghuzes, mainly in a steppe zone of their moving, the Mongol racial shape dominated, but there were mixed Caucasian and Mongol and other types as well. The Oghuzes’ ethnic community formation of was a difficult and long process. The initial kernel of an early Oghuz group was formed in Zhetysu, however in the course of the movement to the west it considerably replenished at the expense of Southern and Western Kazakhstan territories nomadic and semi-nomadic population. The majority of Oghuzes’ tribes were settled in steppes at the Aral and Caspian seas, and also was concentrated across the Irgiz, the Ural, the Emba, the Uil. In the east separate groups the Oghuzes reached the coast of Balkhash lake where they possessed a fortress Gorguz. The Oghuzes’ tribes also lived in a valley of the Syr-Darya, Karatau's foothills, the Shu valley. Historical and geographical materials give the chance to draw a conclusion that most compactly the Oghuzes lived in Priaralye, Northern Prikaspy, the bottom flow of the Syr-Darya.

Oghuzes’ state played an important role in political and military history of Eurasia. In the second half of the X century in a foreign policy of the state of the Oghuzes dominated rapprochement with Kievan Rus', directed against the Hazaria state. This process was caused by a community of political and trade and economic interests of the Oghuzes and the Old Russian state. Being in the territory of important trade ways, Hazaria figured at the international exchange between the North and the South, Asia and Europe. The Old Russian state competing with Hazaria, was interested in control over these trade highways. Along with this, the nomadic nobility of the Oghuzes felt a severe need for pastures for the herds, in the Don and the Black Sea steppes where Hazaria blocked a way. All this predetermined foreign policy course of a coalition of Oghuz’s zhabgu with the Russian princes.

At a boundary of the X-XI centuries Oghuzes’ state experienced crisis owing to revolt of the tribes dissatisfied with taxation. The discontent in Oghuzes’ society was used by the Seldzhuks, lodged near Dzhend in the middle of the X century. They rose against Oghuzes’ governors. However insurgent movement of Seldzhuks failed and they were compelled to leave Dzhend.

The state of the Oghuzes under Shakhmelik's power was amplified by the successor of Alikhan that in 1041and the Oghuzes took Khorezm. However two years later Shakhmelik dzhagbu fell into hands of Seldzhuks and was executed. It was the last governor of the Oghuzes.

In the middle of the XI century owing to internal and external contradictions Oghuz’s state fell, and its population was a part of the Qipchaq’s empire. The considerable part of the Oghuzes went to borders of Eastern Europe and Minor Asia, other parts were passed under the power of the Karahanids and Seldzhuks’

governors of Khurasan. The remains of broken by the Qipchaqs the Oghuzes were dissolved further among the Turkic tribes of Deshti-Qipchaq.

2) The study of nomadic and settled civilization shows us that the interaction and mutual enrichment of the cultures were the main line of the world progress.

In science the Eurocentric conception had dominated for a long time according to which the nomads introduced retarded barbarians in contrast to agricultural population.

The British scientist, historian, author of the local civilization theory A.Toinbi wrote that “The nomads’ society is the society which doesn’t have history”.

The noted French historian T. Brodel concluded “The barbarians, who are really dangerous for civilization, almost all relate to one kind of people – to the nomads…”

The Russian scientist, who is the author of numerous works on the history of nomadic empires, N. Kradin wrote “All of the empires which were established by the nomads were Barbaric empires”. At the same time, however he admits that “not all of Barbaric empires established by the nomads”. There are other opposite conceptions where the best traditions of society connect progressive role of the nomads for development of civilizations in Eurasia.

Also it is impossible to take the society of the nomads in isolation from settled population, they had lived in common during many centuries enriching the culture. There were ethnic, economic and culture relations between them.

As the prominent Russian orientalist V.V.Barthold pointed out “The trade with the nomads was profitable for settled population, who could take animal products from the nomads”, “it was impossible under other conditions. The trade with the nomads had great importance”.

In the VI - first half of the IX centuries in South Kazakhstan and Zhetysu original culture was formed, integrating achievements of agricultural Sogdiana and nomadic Turkic.

Trade, political and economical centres were appeared concentrating in the trade, craft and cultural life of people of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. A few factors influenced on development of the town culture in this region. Firstly, the geographic location, this is convenient natural-climatic conditions. Secondly, influence of Sogdiana culture, this is settled-agricultural region of Middle Asia. Thirdly, in the VI-VIII cc. the main directions of the Great Silk Road passed through on the territory of Zhetysu and South Kazakhstan.

In the second half of the VI century Zhetysu and South Kazakhstan entered into the structure of Turkic kaganate, after the disolution of Turkic kaganate this region entered into Western Turkic and the town Sujab was its capital.

At this time reviving part of the Silk Road took place and stimulated the origin of numerous town centers in Zhetysu and promoted rapid growth of those towns, which were on this horizontal alignment.

The Great Silk Road played a historic part for integration of the culture of many people. In the middle of the II century BC the Silk Road began to work as the regular diplomatic and trade artery.

In the VI-VIII cc. the most reviving way became the way passing from China through Zhetysu and South Kazakhstan, although former way was shorter and more convenient.

In the VI-VIII cc. the main route was Syria-Iran-Middle Asia-South Kazakhstan-valley of Talas-Issyk-Kul’s basin -Eastern Turkestan.

The branch of that route was the route that had its line from Byzantium through Derbent to the Pricaspian steppes – Mangyshlak-Priaralye-South Kazakhstan. It went round Sassanid Iran.

The Kazakhstan’s part of the Silk Road, if we move from the west to the east, went from Shash through the Turbat pass to Isphidzhab or Sairam. The name of this ancient town has been kept till our days. The settlement near Shimkent is by this its name. Caravans went from Isphidzhab to the East, to Taraz, through Sharab and Budukhent towns.

The first metropolis, which merchants met on the Silk Road in the valley of Talas was Zhuvikat. Then they got to Taraz, one of the ancient towns of Kazakhstan. Exactly here Turkic kagane Disabul had received diplomatic representative of Iustinian II from Byzantium in 568, who arrived to conclude military alliance against Iran and solve the problems about trade of silk.

Near Taraz there was Zhamukat, founded by expatriates of Bukhara. The town is mentioned in VIc. The ruins were turned out in the Talas valley. In the flat ground of the valley there had been the town of Atlakh, where in 751 there was an important battle between the Arabs and the Chinese. Not far away from Taraz on the trade route there were the towns Adahket and Deh Nudzhukes. From Taraz to the East the route went to Kulan.

At the beginning the Silk Road was used to export Chinese Silk then the goods from the Byzantium Empire, Rome, Iran, India. Further along the Silk Road horses, birds and animals were bred, plants were cultivated. But the main subject of trade remained silk, which served as an international currency along with gold.

In addition to the trade, the Silk Road served many other functions, there were diplomatic embassies and religious missions. So from India through Сentral Asia and Eastern Turkestan Buddhism came to China, from Iran and Syria-Christianity, and later Islam.

Many medieval and contemporary authors have noted that the Turkic – speaking nations had the original religion – Tengrianism. This religious system was born in the depths of a nomadic society of Eurasia BC and has continued to maintain its position even today in the minds of the Kazakhs, despite recent attachment to Islam. Sky-god – “Tengri” was the supreme, omnipotent omniscient deity the organizer and creator of the world, an abstract force that rules the world. Turkic kagans in their inscriptions consistently called Tengri to be favourable to them. By wish of Tengri and Ier-Sub Turkics won and/or were defeated.

Next but not less important were Yer-Sub and the female deity Umai – patroness of home and children. They were of higher triad of the Turkics’ deities. For example, it is said on the monument to the honor of Tonukok: “Tengri, Umai, sacred Yer Sub, they gave victory”.

The importance of the beliefs of all the Turkic – speaking tribes of the Middle Ages had a cult of sacred mountains – Ydyk bash. Ancient Turkics particularly, revered the Hangai mountains, there was a “cave of ancestors”, where according to the Turkic legends, a she-wolf gave birth to ancestors of the Turkics. Sacrifice performed here once a year.

Along with their own beliefs in the VI-IX cc. religious system became a widespread among the Turkic tribes on Central Asia and Eastern Turkestan, created by other civilizations –Buddhism, Manichaeism, and Christianity.

At the end of IX-the beginning of X cc. the Islamization of Turkic – speaking ethnic groups started in Kazakhstan.

The Turkic tribes of Central Asia had entered into Turkic kaganate; also Western Turkics had already used their own alphabet in the VI-VII cc.

The origin of the Turkic runic alphabet, despite the efforts of several generations of Turkic studies, still remains a challenge.

A few points of view about the origin of Turkic alphabet were formed in the science:

1)The theory about the origin of Turkic alphabet from Aramei alphabet. The author of this theory was V. Tomsen is the first of Turkic runic alphabet in 1893.

2)The theory about an independent origin, about local tamgas source. The theory of A. Shifner was supported by a Russian orientalist N.A.Aristov. N.Aristov found a resemblance to the Turkic tamgas in 29 out of 38 signs of the Orkhon alphabet.

3)The theory about borrowing from the Sogdians. The author of this conception was Russian scientist S. Klyashtornyi.

The ancient Turkic alphabet was discovered in the valley of the Yenisei river in the 20-es of XVIII century by German scientist I.Messershmidt and Swedish officer I.Stralenberg. As these letters were resembled to Scandinavian runic texts, they were called runic.

By the Russian scientist N.M.Yadrinzev in the Northern Mongolia a stone with runic inscriptions were found in the valley Orkhon in 1889. The first decipherer of these texts was Danish scientist A. Tomsen in 1893, who translated the first word – Tengri. By the location of Turkic monuments the texts had become known as “The Orkhon-Yenisei”. Among the most famous monuments of ancient Turkic writing we can call a stone with runic texts in honor of Bilge kagane, Kultegin and Tonukok.

Accordingly generalizing cultural heritage of Turkic VI-IX cc. we can draw a conclusion, that ancient Turkics hadn’t been left outside of the world civilization, on the contrary, they introduced essential contribution to the world civilization. It is the prosperity of town culture, development of the trade and crafts, statehood,

traditional form of military and administrative governance, religions, letters, language, the symbiosis steppes and towns culture and etc.

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