The Kipchaks and Cumans

The third special episode this week offers a historical overview of the Kipchak and Cuman Turkic confederations, tracing their origins from the Altai Mountains and their westward expansion. It examines their interactions with neighboring settled kingdoms such as the Rus, Hungarians, and Byzantines, highlighting their military prowess, diplomatic strategies, and cultural impact.

In the episode, we also explore their eventual encounter with the Mongol Empire, the disintegration of their state, and the subsequent diaspora of their people, whose linguistic and cultural legacies continue to influence various modern Turkic groups.

Unlike in previous discussions, we delve deep not just into the overall history but also the sources that told us about it in the first place! From ancient sources of the Göktürks and Uyghur Empire to modern analytical literature by Klashtorny and Prof. Golden, this episode is longer than usual and source-heavy.

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