Turks

*Population estimates for 1994

The name itself is Turk. Ethnographically, the Turks took off from two main components: the Turkish nomad cattle breeding tribes (mainly Ogusy and Turkmen), who moved into Asia Minor from Middle Asia and Iran in the eleventh to thirteenth centuries during the Mongol and Seldzhuk conquest, and local population of Asia Minor.

A part of the Turkish tribes penetrated into Asia Minor from the Balkars (Uzs, Pechenegs). On the territory of CIS, they live in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Mixed with a local population (Armenians, Georgians, Uzbeks), the Turks assimilated a part from them, but adopted by themselves habits of economy and cultural traits. Anthropologically, many of the Turks belong to the Mediterranean race. Arabs, Curds, Southern Slavs, Romanians, Albanians, and other elements took part in their ethnogenesis. The forming of the Turkish nationality finished in the fifteenth century. Many of the Turks engage in agriculture and cattle breeding, while the other work in industry.

According to religion, a majority of the Turks are of the Muslims-Sunnite faith.