1. Turkish origins. Little contemporary source materials. Turkish nomads lived in Altai mountains north of Afghanistan and China. Nomadic civilization. Rule by tribal chiefs (beg/bey) according to tribal laws and customs. Temporary leadership of groups of tribes given to khans to lead in war or find food, fodder and booty. Religion of Shamanism-worship of primitive elements of nature as interpreted by shamans.

2. Turkish movements out of Altai mountains. East to northern China, Siberia, Korea, Japan (?) by Tunguz and Manchus; south into China by Mongols; west into Europe and Middle East called selves O?uz or Ghuzz and called Turkomans by Europeans after most famous tribe in confederation, the Turks. Most famous of these were Huns, Avars, Bulgars and Magyars. Ravage, raid, take booty, changing local economic systems, but no massacres, so after they move on natives return-little ethnic change until later when these groups settle in conquered areas.
 

3. Middle East defense system established by Muslim empires of the Middle East, the Umayyads and Abbasides--northeast of Iranian province of Khorasan in Tranxoxania-between Hindu Kush and Aral Sea (Caspian), between Oxus River and Jaxartes River.

4. Nomadic contact with Middle East went through two periods:
a. Age of Assimilation in 7-11th centuries. Nomads prevented from crossing Transoxania into Middle East. Settle down in Transoxania where they are assimilated to Middle Eastern-Islamic civilization by military contact, trade, missionary activity, and individual penetration of Middle East by nomads. Many converts to Islam enter service of Abbasids, first as slaves, then as free men, become high governmental and military officials. Later establish independent states as Abbasids decline: Tulunids in Egypt (868-905), Ikhshidids in Egypt and Syria (935-969); Karakhanids in Iran and Transoxania (991-1211), Ghaznevids in Afghanistan and eastern Iran (977-1186), and Seljuks in Iraq.
b. Age of Conflict and Change-11th-14th centuries. Abbasid defense system breaks down. Middle East invaded by uncivilized barbarians without preliminary assimilation to Orthoox Islam: Mongols from Central Asia and China and Crusaders from Europe; and herodox Fatimids from North Africa and Egypt (create Cairo in 969).

5. Seljuks culminate Age of Assimilation. Came as nomadic warriors breaking into Middle East to plunder. Converted to Islam, become guards of Middle Eastern cities. Success causes Abbasid Caliphs to call Seljuks to Baghdad as guardians of Caliphate, Abbasid state against invaders, prevent Shiism from replacing Orthodox Islam in Middle East. In return, power in Islamic Abbasid state divided between Caliph, who retains moral, religious authority, and Seljuk leader,  appointed as Sultan with secular power, power to enact secular laws. To revive and rescue Abbasid state, Seluks create slave army of Mamluks, then drive out nomads of original Seljuk army. Try to drive them against Fatimids in Egypt to fulfill promises to Abbasid Caliphs, but Turkish nomads prefer to move north through Syria, Cilician gates, into Anatolia to attack declining Christian Byzantine Empire and Armenian and Georgian areas in eastern Anatolia and Caucasus, thus beginning Turkish conquest of Anatolia. Seljuks also re-invigorate Orthdox Islam to defend it against Shiism, and to make religion  basis of Seljuk and Abbasid power; finance work of al-Ghazzali to make popular mystic Islam acceptable to Orthodox Islam and thus bring mass of people back into Sunni faith as supporters of dynasty. Also create new and powerful bureaucracy, with wealth and power from iqtas.

6. Seljuk decline starting in late 12th century leads to internal breakdown, anarchy. Collapse of defense system lead to new invasions by Buddhist and Christian  Mongols from Central Asia and Christian Crusaders from Europe, who bring alien elements into Middle Eastern society. Esta blishment of Mongol Ilkhanid Empire in Middle East organized for war. Middle East responds by creating own military states, the Mamluks of Egypt and Syria and the Ottoman Empire, which ultimately took over the entire area.