Karluk

Karluk refers to a medieval Turkic-speaking people of Central Asia. They formed a confederation in the Ili River valley and surrounding regions in the 8th century and grew into a major power in the area. The Karluk ulus established itself as a political center, and in the 10th century their rulers helped found the Karakhanid Khanate, which controlled much of Transoxiana for several centuries. The Karluks played a significant role in the Islamization of the eastern Tarim Basin and in the broader political development of Central Asia during the medieval period.

Language classification places Karluk as a branch of the Turkic language family. The most widely spoken modern Karluk languages are Uzbek and Uyghur, which reflect the historical settlement areas and influence of Karluk-speaking groups in Central Asia.

In addition to its historic meaning, Karluk is also the name of places in Alaska, United States. Karluk, Alaska, is a small village located on Kodiak Island near the Karluk River. The surrounding area supports subsistence and small-scale economic activities, including fishing. The Karluk River itself is known for salmon runs and wildlife, and the name Karluk is used locally to refer to both the river and the community.