History of the Turkic peoples

In this episode, we explore the history of the Turkic peoples, a broad and diverse collection of communities whose origins stretch across the Eurasian steppe and whose influence expanded from Siberia and Central Asia to Anatolia, the Middle East, and the Balkans. The episode traces their early nomadic traditions, steppe migrations, and belief systems such as Tengrism, before examining how Turkic groups founded powerful states and empires, including the Seljuks and Ottomans, that transformed regional politics, warfare, language, and culture. It also follows their gradual adoption of Islam, interactions with neighboring civilizations, and evolution into modern Turkic-speaking nations, highlighting how shared linguistic roots, cultural memory, and steppe heritage continue to connect Turkic peoples across Eurasia today.