Göktürk
Göktürk, also written Göktürks or Gök Türkler, denotes a Turkic people of the early medieval period and their empire, the Göktürk Khaganate, the first major Turkic state on the Eurasian Steppe. The name means “Celestial Turks” or “Sky Turk,” reflecting Tengriist beliefs at the core of early Turkic political culture.
Origins and rise: The Göktürks emerged from the Ashina clan after breaking away from the Rouran Khaganate
Politics, economy, and culture: The empire controlled key sections of the Silk Road, facilitating trade between
Division and decline: In 603 a civil war split the realm into the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and
Legacy: The Göktürks are regarded as the first state-level Turkic polity and a foundational episode in Turkic