Author's Preface

     This book is the continuation of "Polovetskoe Field Absinth". Better to say, I intended to complement "…Absinth", but it resulted in a new book about the Great Steppe history as well.
    Absinth is a peculiar grass: not everyone but only elite appreciate it: for me it is the spirit of motherland. It is a silent message from forsaken country, lost nowadays, which was formerly called the Great Steppe or the Steppe of Kipchaks (Desht-I-Kipchak). Our forefathers used to hang a leather bag with a pinch of dry absinth on their necks before a long journey - for good luck. "An incense for the soul" - they used to say. There wasn't another native odor except for emshan-grass odor - a silent call of motherland - for a steppe inhabitant.
    Unfortunately, nowadays this bewitching odor is known to very few. We've been weaned away from it.
    And we have forgotten everything - our family tree, our forefathers, ourselves… Some time in the Great Steppe it was considered a good sign to send a bunch of dry absinth instead of a letter or a gift - a call for meeting or return. Remember?

    You'd better sing him our songs,
    And when he doesn't answer
    You tie a bunch of dry absinth
    And hand it him - and he'll be back

     That's by Maikov. The poet put the parting words into Syrchan-khan's mouth, who called for his brother Otrok to return home, to native steppes, from the Caucasus…
    In IV century our nation boldly turned the page of European history - it delivered people from Roman slavery, gave freedom to them… Our forefathers - and nobody else! - opened modern religious symbols to European pagans, Europeans heard of the Heavenly God from Turkic Kipchaks for the first time and learnt their present prayers.
    These were the Turki who taught the Europeans new metallurgical technologies: to smelt iron and make goods thereof. By the example of Altai newcomers European menfolk refused to wear skirts and took to pants…

    Dozens of world nations used to speak and keep on speaking Turkic language - from Yakutia to Western Europe. And even in Africa - in Tunisia and Morocco - there are some settlements where one can hear Turkic speech.
    The Turkish are the most numerous and well-known - there are over 50 million of them. Turkey plays an important part in modern world, everybody knows it, which cannot be said of tofalars (there are several hundreds of them). Very few have heard of a nation which could be accommodated within a couple of villages. They live in wild Siberian taiga having the slightest notion of their neighbors. But at the same time it is quiet possible that tofalars, who have led a lonesome life for centuries and have rarely contacted with other nations, are the keepers of the most ancient Turkic language and the purest Turkic blood. Only in the most necessary cases.
    Turkic world is great… There are nations who have forgotten native language and history long ago but retained the appearance of their forefathers and their customs: Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, noticeable part of the French, Germans, Russians, Englishmen… And there are those who haven't forgotten a single thing and clearly remember even distant pages of our history - they keep it in their songs, legends and narratives. To tell the truth, neighborhood with other nations affected their appearance: Kazakhs, Kirghizes, Tuvinians… Their faces have little in common with their forefathers' faces, although their inner life is extraordinarily rich in priceless treasures of the past.
    How can such "variety" be estimated? Is it good or evil? Misfortune or happiness?.. None of world languages has as much dialects as Turkic does: people have one blood but their speech differs. Why?
    This question cannot be answered easily. Though everything is kept within a natural course of events and has its explanation.
    Unfortunately, countries and nations history has been always written for politics sake. And quiet often the Truth had to step back before an undisguised fabrication under political pressure. Perhaps that's because true Turkic history hasn't been written yet; there are only separate fragments thereof. And an ocean of lie around… But there is no nation without History. And no history without Nation!

    We are the Kipchaks!
   
There is a well-known statement of Goebbels expressing the essence of politics: bereave the nation of its history - and in a generation it will turn into a crowd and in another generation it can be easily ruled as a herd… A familiar situation, isn't it? It seems we've turned into slaves long ago and didn't notice that!
    Our scientists have been learning C.P.S.U. history and didn't know the history of Turkic nation. They simply haven't investigated it in Russia - it was prohibited.
    Of course there will be some objections - those objections being right! - they say a lot has been written. That's true. But can one believe in everything that's been written? One Turki doesn't recognize another, he can't remember his forefathers. Small splinter is posed as an entire independent nation. They invent whatever they like. Kumyk, for instance, writes in his thesis that Kumyks are not the descendants of great steppe inhabitants but Laks and Dargintses from Kumuh settlement which were made Turkic. Shame on such a "science".
    As a rule the Turki are humiliated by the Turki themselves! And we shouldn't blame anyone. I'm indignant not because I'm Kumyk but because my forefathers were the Kipchaks, their history is my history and I don't need another one…
    And our Karachai neighbors go to another extreme - they rank the Turki among the Alans (i.e. Iranian language Ossetins), they originate the history of their nation and all the Turki from them. Moreover, they are proving that of Turkic world originates in Karachai, as though our ancestors lived there… One could possibly smile reading all this nonsense but it has been edited in thousands of copies, and children are brought up with it.
    Certainly not all scientists are blind but, unfortunately, similar "knowledge" was seeded amidst the nation. It was ordered by local masters who cared not for the truth but for an opportunity to keep their position. They would do anything for that. Dagestan Kumyks, for example, "proved" their aboriginal position amongst the Caucasus nations in that way.

    Karachais' disavowal of Turkic heritage is also humanly clear: they suffered from genocide - repressions of the forties have not been forgotten. Thus they invented an opportune rescue formula in case of other genocide: to arrogate themselves to Ossetins - for Ossetins were never affected in Russia… A slight ruse developed into a blatant lie.

    Fear, cowardice, "slight ruses" became the part of flesh and blood of some Turki, hence are bitter fruits in science and in life - one has always to play up, abase himself and try to please somebody… Thus the Turki started to neglect the Pride, Dignity and Honor, while nation can be respected only for those features.
    Nowadays there are three hundred thousand of Kumyks, a little less than two hundred thousand of Karachais and only several tens of thousand of Balkarians… Over two hundred years ago we were a single nation (Lermontov and Tolstoi used to call us Caucasian Tatars), we lived in one country being the heiress of Khazaria, - in Caucasian Shamkhalia which was colonized by tsarist Russia in XIX century.
    To tell the truth, Karachais and Balkarians are still called "tavlu-kumuk", i.e. "mountain Kumyks". The difference is that they live in mountains while we live in steppe. And that's all! Karachais, Balkarians, Kumyks, Crimean Tatars, Gagauzes, Terekements are absolutely the same relating to language and culture… Even clans are the same. In my opinion, Russians living in Armenia and Estonia differ rather noticeably between each other. Although the Turki are different "nations" and Russians are a single one. Why?
   
Shamhalia were formerly called the Kipchaks, Khazars, Caucasian Tatars. Later on local Cossaks (from Stavropol And Tver) became the Slavs, indeed, until XIX century they were also Caucasian Tatars, spoke our language, others still speak their native language. (For example, it is enough to read "The Cossaks" by Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi where Turkic origin of Cossaks is clearly described and their native language is mentioned. Since 1863 a lot of Caucasian Kipchaks turned their backs on their forefathers, started speaking only Russian and entire villages became a part of Russian colonial forces. )
A cruel fate awaited for Shamkhalia inhabitants. Those unwilling to serve as Tsar's soldiers were evicted form the Caucasus by authorities - almost 4 million people were deprived of motherland. They were not sold for slavery - they were deported - released "free of charge" - to Turkey, Jordan, Syria. There are settlements where Caucasian dialect of Turkic language has not been forgotten; it still can be heard astonishing the neighbors. Luckily foreign Kumyks don't invent a new history for themselves, they still remember their Motherland left as the fates decree with a heavy heart.
    We cannon say the same of Gagauzes who were also forced to leave the Caucasus two centuries ago. It seems they have forgotten their Shamkhalia and everything on earth: their modern history is in strange compliance with official Russian history. As if nothing was going on until XIX century.

    Kumyks, Balkarians, Karachais, Gagauzes (the Cossaks should be mentioned specially) are not numerous, weak, their intelligentsia is few in number. And that makes the positions of Tatar and Bachkir historians more vulnerable: I reckon their universities and academies not worth a pin for even they don't tell the truth about the Turki. Or are they playing their game?
    They came to believe in the "Mongolian-Tatar yoke" which never actually took place. It was invented in XIX century, during the rise of Slavophilism. The author of this invention is a schoolteacher who is even mentioned in writings by N.M. Karamzin. This invention satisfied a great many people.
    Indeed, is Turkic time counted from Chingis-khan? Does our state system originate from the Golden Horde? Do academic ignoramuses have the right to turn a visiting Arab merchant named Ibn Fadlan, having disgustingly written of the Turki, into a prophet of Turkic spiritual conception?
    Have we become that stupid to forget everything?! Is our spiritual fall that intense?.. And our memory that short?
    It seems that's true - certain inventors, from Kazakhstan for instance, "prove" a boring conception of "nomadic" civilizations…One cannot invent anything more absurd. There were no Turkic "nomadic civilizations" in the Great Steppe and there couldn't be any - these are alternative terms! Mongols were the nomads while the Kipchaks never were… and don't feel like being them even in Kazakh writings!
    Our forefathers led a settled life, were engaged in farming and cattle-breeding, they were excellent craftsmen, built fortified settlements, irrigative canals, roads and crossings… Most ancient cast-iron shovels (plough prototype) were found in Altai, the Turki used them at the beginning of Common Era. Many so called "Old Russian" towns and settlements in the Steppe were founded by the Turki in IV - V centuries when the Great Migration of nations was over.
    "Nomad Civilizations" theory was created by politicized scientists. After conquest of the Steppe it was important to deprive the Turkic nation of achievements of its culture, to turn it into a crowd. It was not by chance that an article named "The Turki" was not included into Big Soviet Encyclopedia, although other nations, even African, were not neglected by the authors…
    Lately many facts were not evident, but today it is illegal and offensive for independent Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Those states and partly Russia, Ukraine, Kirghizstan and Kazakhstan are historical successors of the great steppe country, ancient Desht-I-Kipchak, where no nomads ever lived.
    Arabs used to call the Great Steppe "the Country of Towns" as Ibn Battuta and other travelers wrote. And Varangians on both sides of the route "from the Varangians to the Greeks"(Dnepr basin) named it "the Kingdom of Towns" - "Gardarik" in their language… "Nomads" and "Country of Towns" - a manifest contradiction!
    Let's have a look at our national cookery, its farinaceous foods and let's compare: beshbarmak - flour - grain - agriculture… and nomads. What is it? Nonsense! Because it was their own steppe grain. Millet and barley were traditionally cultivated by the Kipchaks in the fields, they were estimated above all: these cultures were accommodated to inclement Altai nature to a great extent. And, besides, oats and buckwheat, which cereals were called "Tatar" in Russia.

    Many invented "truths" should have been revised long ago.
    Besides, sooner or later, we'll have to name our nation as it was formerly called. We are the Kipchaks and should remain them… What names have not been the Turki named in historical chronicles: Avars, Barsils, Bulgarians, Bourgognes, Huns, Pechenegs and dozens of others! That chaos was of great importance for politicians because it "proved" existence of separate tribes and nations in the Great Steppe. Thus sole Turkic state system was concealed while Chinese governors used to study it as far back as before Common Era.
    A great deal has been forgotten behind secular lies…
    In my books I definitely call the inhabitants of Desht-I-Kipchak only the Kipchaks or steppe inhabitants. And I urge all the rest to do the same. Because our country was called the Steppe of the Kipchaks which means the nation has (according to generally accepted rules!) one and only name - "the Kipchaks", which it called itself.
   
I know that "Kipchak" is only one among Turkic clans and not even the most noble. Never mind! It gave the name to our Steppe, so let us ennoble it and thus ennoble the whole history of nations having absorbed the culture of the Great Steppe.

    Nowadays we - the Kipchaks - are divided into more than fifty "small nations". We've been cut to pieces. That's because some have forgotten their native language, others have kept it with slight changes. But, as is well known, not language but the spirit is a distinguishing feature of a nation! Language is given to a man to express feelings and thoughts of his soul aloud. Language has no power over words - they come out of heart.
    Here is an example of such words; they are by Fyodor Tyutchev who, although he was called a Slav, was from the Turkic clan of braziers, Tucci, by birth. Only Kipchak's soul could exclaim:

    Although we were parted   
    By hostile destiny,
    We are still a single nation,
    Sons of one mother;
    But still we are the brothers
    That's what they hate in us!

    In the words of "Russian" Turki one can find the warmth of hearth and smell of absinth… troops of riders and droves, herds, flocks… the song that was sung before my great-great-great-great-grandfather's cradle… The work is called "The Slavs", it was written when Russia was turning away from its Turkic origin and inventing a Slavic one for politics sake. (That was the period of abrupt aggravation of relations with Turkey, the height of Russian-Turkish wars to which Russia was skillfully instigated, above all, by the Greeks who were dreaming of return of Asia Minor and)
   
    In XVIII - XIX centuries, after Prince Dolgorukov's, generalissimo Suvorov's and other commanders' punitive expeditions to a former Steppe, tens of millions Kipchaks were given Russian names. They were forcedly christened with the Greek Cross and were "registered" as Russians. Parish schools were opened where children were taught in Russian, most gifted were separated from parents and sent to Petersburg.
    Ethnic cleansing has been carried out in Russia for centuries. But we cannot deceive ourselves, in any case Russia will remember its ancestors - the Kipchaks - who have never dishonored it. Voice of blood and mentality should awaken.    
    Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Austrians, Bavarians, Saxons, inhabitants of Northern Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Western France, England, Northern Europe… America and Australia will recognize their Kipchak past… That's right, many of Americans' and Australians' ancestors some time were regarded as excellent riders, spoke Turkic language… And they called themselves "the Kipchaks".

    Disgraced world race
    When will you become a nation?
    When will the times of your discord and adversity be over,
    And a call for unification will strike up,
    And that what divides us will collapse?..

    We are the people with one blood and one history… So let's remember Altai and our Great Steppe.

Altai Cradle   

    Traces of ancient people, as far as we know, were found in Central Africa and Indo-China - two centers of civilizations origin. Hence are two human races - Negroid and Mongoloid - apparently.
    Evolution of civilizations slowly led to division of people into nations. Firstly it was connected only with environment around people. For instance, mountain-dwellers' psychology and attitude have been evolving for thousands years and differed from those of shore inhabitants. And forest inhabitants' culture and worldview were considerably different. Features of every nation were forming for thousands years, their identity was polishing - that's because one needs dozens lines, hundreds color hues in order to paint a portrait of a nation.
    Today scientists count over four thousand nations divided into three races. When and how did Europeans appear? No one knows. But, somehow or other, Turkic Kipchaks are among the Europeans.
    To tell truth, faces of certain Turki have Mongoloid features but it hasn't always been the same. Their ancestors didn't have any. That's known for sure. On the cover of our book one can see the fragment of the carpet found in Altai. It is two and a half thousand years old. Scrutinize it closely - a true Turki from remote ages.
    Anthropologists have recreated an exact appearance of ancient Kipchak according to found skulls and extant sculptures. And its verbal portrait was left by the Chinese, they were aware of "dinlins" - a nation living in Altai - long before the Common Era. The Chinese were impressed by appearance of their northern neighbors - blue-eyed, white-haired, "with faces like marmosets'" as it is written in ancient manuscript. In a word, it's a direct opposite to the Chinese themselves.
    Observant Chinese marked different body proportions and skull form. They called the Kipchaks "round-headed". And enlarged temporal uniquely marks our faces making them "broad faces" even today. That's right. Some consider us to be short-legged; others think we have feet with high insteps… What can be done? That is the will of God. Every nation has its identity, its distinctions kept by their ancestors.    
    Today the Kipchaks are different in appearance - there are many black-haired and browned-eyed people. There are certain historic reasons for that. However, the nation has kept the essentials - soul and hot blood, they've never changed and remained as they were.
    An irrepressible soul, sometimes too shy, ungovernable or even reckless more often, always dreamy and very vulnerable.

    What does the word "Kipchak" mean? We don't know for certain, it is a subject of much controversy. It is translated in different ways: "the one feeling tight", "unhappy" and otherwise. I reckon all possible and impossible interpretations will do. Because a single word won't explain what "snow in the fire and in the wind" means.
    A volcano? A storm? One of the elements? It's nor unlikely… Kipchak's soul means freedom above all. Only freedom and open space really gift it with happiness… So let the word "Kipchak" be interpreted as anybody wishes, but… Those who don't need freedom don't have Kipchak blood!
    No, we haven't kept our blood clean in the tumult of life for we didn't cherish the traditions. We loved foreign women greedily, we set free our own ones too generously. Assimilation and blood mixture didn't strengthen the nation but led to weakening thereof.
    Mongolian and Chinese inheritance is noticeable in certain Kipchaks: as though Mongols and the Chinese have dissolved in part of us. There are many Turki with Iranian appearance and many Iranians resembling the Turki. In Iran entire provinces - millions people! - speak Turkic language, they are Azerbaijanians although they are registered as Iranians.
    There are inexplicabilities in the Northern Caucuses as well. For example, there are lots of people with classic Kipchak appearance among Ossetins or Chechens. As though the heroes of a picture of distant past have come alive. But not many of them remember Turkic language… There was a time when the whole Turkic settlements "voluntarily" changed their nationality. But their toponymy didn't change. Nowadays only past-names remind of the past…

    Thank Tengri, Turkic spirit didn't fade away all over Desht-I-Kipchak! I felt it in some Tatars, Bashkirs, Altai inhabitants, Khakases, I saw their sleepy eyebrows awaking and their extinct eyes rising. It seems Turkic traditions are nowhere that strong as they are in Azerbaijan. A unique country with great cultural and economic opportunities. It keeps something that's been forgotten in Europe - ancestors' culture!
    And European Kipchaks are an indifferent nation: due to inquisition (From the I Roman Council of 494 Western Church started a secret war against the Turki. In VII century ideological aggression became the program of Pope Gregory the Great and was realized during next three centuries. It was noticeably changed in medieval Europe during the period of inquisition when mass annihilation of traces of Turkic culture was finished: incineration of books, destruction of temples, mass executions. In Russia that period is connected with Romanov dynasty.). Roman and Byzantine churches have been bringing up steppe Europeans indifferent to themselves and their history for centuries. Hence is this inertia. A broken nation! But not lost yet.
    If only they could hear ancient songs and weeps of Altai which echoes keep famous Azerbaijan mougams. Here it is - the Great Brotherhood of the Kipchaks; it can be expressed only by a song. Words without music are too cold and inexpressive for a Turki.
    Kirghiz Kipchaks also have a composed appearance, but in other ways. Why, have the mountains pacified those people?.. Or Chinese composure cooled Turkic blood here? Kirghiz's conciliation is in his character and behavior: they never feel tight in mountain valleys!..
    Kirghizes are the keepers of ancient wisdom of the Kipchaks. The same as Altai inhabitants… and Khakases… Our forefathers deified the mountains. In the mountains, in their eternal peace, people have been searching for the secret of the universe for Altai is an ancient Turkic Motherland (Ancestors meant other territory when they used the word "Altai". As a matter of fact, it was the whole Southern Siberia including Baikal and Transbaikalia in the East and Pamirs in the West. I will call it "Ancient Altai" in my book). Consequently souls of departed Kipchaks rush for the mountains.
    That's because the Turki built the barrows, temples and searched for places for interments of heroes at the tops of the mountains. People followed the traditions since olden days, but, unfortunately, those traditions have been forgotten in many respects.
    Khakases, Altai inhabitants, Tuvinians, Buryats who lacked steppe expanses remained the keepers of secrets and antiquities of Turkic world forever. For sure, their historic memory has become weaker, much has been forgotten, but every day they set their feet on earth keeping warmth of forefathers' pace, they can see the same mountains and sky of divine beauty. Ancient lines remind of that:

Near quiet mountains with their excellent view and fresh verdure,
Having left for places that favor the heart only with delight,
In the osiers thick and tart to meditate
Near foamy waters of small cold forest lakes,
Being convinced of detachment from feelings and eyesight
To recognize the world around as it formerly was
Having forgotten the pleasure to feel the grace in the soul,
These are the places for meetings!

    Of course, not every Altai mountain was in sight. We'll never know why a mountain became sacred, not everyone will have a chance to know it. But every Turki should know the tops esteemed by their forefathers: Kaylasa, Khan-Tengri, Uch-Sumer, Borus…
    Indeed, Steppe is our motherland and Altai is our cradle.
    Two and a half thousand years ago here, in Altai, the Turki could see Eternal Blue Sky which was called Tengri… And we should visit Altai at least once in a lifetime in order to drink its spring water and have a look at the sky here, the cleanest sky in the world, - so as to change ourselves.

    In Altai, on the bank of Ulalinka river, in the sixties A.P. Okladnikov, an academician, found the most ancient site on the territory of Russia. It is two hundred thousand years old! That's when the culture which gave rise to many nations - Ugro-Finns, Koreans, the Turki and many others - began.
    To tell the truth, today Ulalinka site is "contested" by certain archeologists who insist that they've found elder traces of the "great-Turki". So be it. But the merit of Okladnikov and his colleagues is not in the find itself: he was the first who traced the development of Turkic culture since extreme antiquity. That's what his research is important for: the scientist has brought together moment and eternity!
    Okladnikov had to face many difficulties on the path to his discovery. Censors, like sharks, watched for every branch in science! It wasn't allowed even to mention Turkic culture! But parables were allowed. Thus "Altai" and "Siberian" cultures appeared. Similar parables are widespread: "Mihailovskaya", "Dyakovskaya" and other cultures were invented though everybody knows: there is no culture without nation.
    Another brilliant archeologist, professor S.I. Rudenko, also passed a "strength test". In my opinion he didn't say a half of what he has known and found. He also wasn't allowed. But due to talent of this scientist one can easily restore certain pages of what wasn't said about Altai.
    I am sure sometime Rudenko and Okladnikov will become classics of archeology (Of Turkic ideology in particular! And although Rudenko ascribed some findings to Iranian-speaking Scythians, that doesn't change a thing. That was researcher's tactics which gave him an opportunity to proceed with Altai exploration during the period of struggle with Turkic favoritism). Students will be taught ethics of scientists according to their works. Here one can see science, civil position and boldness which hereditary Turki lacked.
    There were many upright researchers in Russia, but they were always guarded by academic "generals" being far from real science. But they managed to work avoiding their importunate control. But for Turkic scientists it was a hundred times harder: they were supervised by specially appointed "internationalists" who were always ready to accuse of Turkic favoritism which meant prison, exile and debar from work at best. But what "Turkic favoritism" means nobody knows. And what's the difference between bad "Turkic favoritism" and good "Slavs favoritism". It's pointless all the same!.. How many works were jettisoned due to stupid politics!
    For example, works of Kazakh academician A.H. Margulan haven't been published. They could have become a delight. The scientist discovered dozens of ancient Turkic towns! With channels, temples, squares… He was forced to give up his work for Moscow and Alma-Ata wished to see "wild nomads" and hordes of "nasty Tatars" instead of Turkic towns and achievements of steppe inhabitants in the Great Steppe.

    Altai and the Great Steppe have not been explored sufficiently. Scientists took what was on the surface: casual findings. But found fragments are convincing.
    Generous Altai slowly disclosed its treasures to the people. Copper pieces very simple by sight pointed at the time of metallurgy appearance. The Bronze Age didn't make Altai inhabitants great - they were the same as the others. But there are other remarkable things about the Bronze Age: the first nations migration took place - tribes which thereafter populated the north of Europe left Altai. They have the same origin as the Turki.
    History of those times can be clearly seen in the excavations of Sintasht and Arkaim, most ancient towns of fore-Ural - there are dozens of traces of metallurgy: from smelting furnaces to copper pieces. It may be that Turkic civilization began at fore-Ural.
    But another thing is more likely. Ural was just a starting line while the influence of Altai played the dominant role. Two and a half thousand years ago Tengri God gave rise to the Iron Age for Turkic people. A fantastic event! We don't know who was the first metallurgist. Perhaps his name was Temir. He deserves a monument. He and his great invention - the first metallurgic furnace in the world!
    That would be good to build a museum there. Such museum cannot be created in any other country of the world. Only in Altai, for Altai was the first. Although people were using iron formerly: but they didn't smelt iron ore and only burned it out instead, such technology was invented by the Hitts two thousand years B.C. The Turki invented the fusion! Natural observation helped them. Metallurgist became one of the most respected occupations since then. Those keeping its secret were in special favor. Temyrkhanovs, Temirbulatovs, Temirovs - those tukhums (clans) were regarded as magicians.
    Metallurgic secrets were passed from fathers to sons and remained the main secret of the Kipchaks. There was a belief: a man initiated into metallurgy is marked with divine wisdom, the great Tengri-khan turned its look towards him. He was prohibited to marry a maid from another ("non-metallurgical") clan not to blab out the secret in his sleep.
    Abundance of metal led the Turki to scientific and technical revolution: discovery of metallurgic furnace can be compared only with invention of wheel in its importance and consequences… A great state raised on the "iron" foundation.
    The Kipchaks conquered neighboring nations easily. And thus they proved that history of their victories is the history of iron's victory over bronze. That's where beginnings of nations migration were hidden!
    Sabre, pike and dagger appeared when our ancestors saddled a horse. Nobody in the whole world managed to do it so smartly and easily - they invented iron bit. And later - chain armor, pointed helmets…
    It wasn't an easy task to prepare the first bridle, the first saddle with stirrups, harness… However, they managed to do it. A new way of living appeared after horses had been domesticated - being equally suitable for towns and steppe villages. A horse became a part of the Turki. Not accidentally, secret wish of the Kipchak was to saddle a horse. All the rest could wait. A horse is in the first place, which means a matter calling for a feat.
    A horse widened open space, led far away, behind the horizon. And besides a new agriculture appeared with its assistance! Altai land has been farmed with cast-iron shovels since then, and rich harvest was gathered with iron sickles.
    Scientific and research revolution and its findings noticeably increased food supplies which in its turn led to real population explosion. Iron gave strength to the people. Secret of steppe culture lay in powerful economics. Certain historians neglect this fact, they want to see nobody except "nomads" in the Steppe.
    Later on the rest of the world simply imitated inventions of the Kipchaks but they didn't contrive them again.
    Such way of life changed even the "wardrobe" of the nation: the Turki invented new clothes suitable for the riders. Wide trousers, boots, hoods, caftans and many other things appeared in Altai. Right up to heel for the boot. And the Kipchaks were distinguishable for their clothes. Their look is recognizable on ancient pictures, in verbal portraits and archeological findings.
    One can speak a lot of quality and beauty of Kipchak attires. Such delicate work. For example, in Pazyryk barrows archeologists found silk, laces, felt, tussore. Nice and practical clothes ware made thereof. Nobody was able to do the same in Europe…
    I urge the opponents to make note of that fact: it turns out that there were not only settlements in the Great Steppe but the towns inhabited by craftsmen, jewelers, weavers, seamstresses, carpet-makers, blacksmiths, potters dealing with porcelain and other masters. People are trying to forget them, though their wares are kept today.
    Archeological findings can also tell a lot of other Turkic "calling cards". Log constructions appeared for the first time in Altai: attics, tower-rooms, huts. They let the people leave the caves and settle where they pleased. Turkic architecture grew like branches of a tree. Its features are recognizable, like everything having remained for ages… Unfortunately, it is also neglected. But it exists!
    For example, attics were notable for their easement, they were built octahedral. Octahedron is a basic geometrical element of Turkic architecture. It provides a maximum area with a minimal perimeter. Better to say, one gets the shortest wall and the most spacious house. Materials and fuel economy, that's what "octahedral" tradition in architecture borne.
    And the stove inside the house? It is also a Turkic invention worth admiration. Especially in frosty weather… A hearth providing "long" warmth and fuel economy.
    Brick - new building material - was invented especially for the oven. Later they learned to build palaces and defense walls of bricks in Altai. In case of need brick building was demolished, and waste bricks were used again… Another kind of economy.
    Different nations keep the memory of many Turkic inventions not having any idea of it. Borrowed items are still named in Turkic. For example, these are money, kopeck, book, cast iron, damask steel, stove, furnace, brick, hut… Dozens and dozens of words - sausage, for example. Or yoghurt which became so popular in Europe, it also came from steppe inhabitants: it means "sour milk" in Turkic.
    And ancient so called Russian "attires" - they are also from the Kipchaks. Slavic clothes were absolutely different - for example Novgorod archeological findings are the evidence of it. Armyak, epancha, caftan, shushun, fur, klobuk and others - here they are, forgotten echoes of forgotten Turkic history… Nothing has been lost!
    At last, it's time for us to comprehend a simple truth: national culture is not invented by historians or politicians, it is not abstract but exact and specific in its details… Therefore national history is not a free narration but a science! Strict and exact, as mathematics or physics… Unfortunately history is free in Russia, each governor used to write it in his own way…

    The Great Nations Migration

    The time has come and it became too tight in Altai: too many people lived there, land couldn't feed them all. That was a very hard time - time to look to the future.
    Roads led to four parts of the world from Altai. Which road to take? What choice can be made?

In the I century Altai was the whole world for our forefathers. That was Motherland, and Southern Siberia mountains, and Baikal (Bai - kul). It was really the whole world where Turkic culture predominated. Altai was also called "Tengri-tau" ("Divine mountain" in Turkic) or Eden ("Forefather's land"). From that place the Turki made their first steps into the world, that was the starting point of our geography.
    "Straightly" meant to go East, South - to the right, North - to the left and West - backwards.
    Left routes (to the North) were short, they were hidden by taiga and morasses. Not many were enticed by those routes, they came to Lena river ("Ilin" means "Eastern" in Turkic) and settled there. Those Turki are presently known as "Yakuts". Routs along Yenesei river ("Enesai" means "Mother river") and Ob ("abe" means "grandmother" in Turkic, i.e. "Grandmother river") also were not neglected.
    To the east of Altai there lay almost impassable Far-Eastern forests and morasses. Nobody was willing to move there from Altai lands.
   
      There were Southern routes, but they also didn't decide the fate of the nation which felt cramped. Turkic riders entered India. Thus famous Sun Tsarist Dynasty originated. The Turki also founded a huge Kushan khanate having united the lands of Middle Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India.
    It should be mentioned that I-III centuries and the whole "Indian period" of Turkic history have been absolutely forgotten by the Turki, but haven't been forgotten in India and Iran. In these countries Kanishka-khan (78 - 123) with pure soul and stable belief is still deified. He was the founder of northern branch of Buddhism and worshiped Heavenly God - the Great Tengri.   
    Kanishka remained the symbol of the Kipchak and the whole Turkic culture in faraway India. Turki have been known there for a long time, they are a mysterious nation which unexpectedly appeared from the North and unexpectedly disappeared. But it disappeared having left archeological traces - sculptures, relief and other works of art as well as temples and cloisters. And literary legends of the Nags - people worshipping snakes. Who knows, maybe legendary Aryans are also from Altai?
    In the time of Kanishka tsar (however, Khan Erke or Kanerka - as his name was minted on coins - would be correct) Altai lived for Kushan (Kashmir) - thousands of tengrian-palmers came there from the North in order to bow to saint places founded by Kanishka.
    That was the time when the Turki provided their own - new for Buddhists! - ceremony of Tengri-khan - Heavenly God worship. This fact is recorded in Buddhist and Indian history.
    People remember and honor those Turki until now in the East keeping the legends of their sacred Shambhala country (Shambkala) ( Shambkala ("sacred fortress" in Turkic) is sometimes pronounced as Shambala and connected with The Himalayas. Such version gives rise to many questions because in the legends the matter concerns not The Himalayas well known in India but the country located far in the North. Altai is located far away in the North from India, it was considered a spiritual center of the East for a long time, the same as The Himalayas. Besides, they smelted iron and made crosses thereof in Altai while ancient traces of ferrous metallurgy haven't been found in Tibet.), which lay far in the North and where saint people lived… That's about the Turki again! Sacred Shambkala country was located in Altai mountains where there are seven snowy tops and where divine iron cross - world vadzhra - is kept… It is still the same. But the Turki are the only ones who don't remember it.
    Roads beaten to India two thousand years ago haven't become overgrown with grass. Biysk route is still in use. But it became shorter and these are not palmers who use it. Another ancient road to Tibet - Nerchinsk route - also remains intact…

    It is only to the West from Altai where beaten roads were absent for a long time. Mountain-dwellers' psychology was one of the reasons of it: people were afraid of new steppe and searched for the routes only in familiar mountains.
    They left for the steppe only at worst. A conflict of beliefs occurred in Altai two and a half thousand years ago: paganism was changed by religion. Tengrianity became widespread. But Heavenly God wasn't accepted by everybody, the dissidents departed. They left for the steppe, they were called "Scythians" (it comes from "scytians", i.e. "wanderer", apparently). Official Scythian history is interpreted otherwise Russian academic science persistently considers the Scythians among Iranian nations not providing any written monuments. They only refer to Herodotus emphatically ignoring conflicting archeological findings. However study of Scythian monuments shows that so-called "unknown writings" thereon, taken for intricate ornamental patterns sometimes, are nothing but runic Turkic writings. Certain words and phrases in ancient Turkic language can be clearly read. That (as well as customs of steppe people described by Herodotus) allows to contend that Scythians were the Turki and not Iranians who had another written language and culture). But in Black Sea steppe and in Altai mountains "Scythian" archeological monuments look absolutely the same. What's the difference between Scythians and the Turki? There is no any.
   
And nevertheless the Scythians are "ownerless" - asserts Russian science forgetting Karamzin's admonition: "Nations don't fall from the moon and don't disappear without a trace…" And what if Scythians have remained? What if they are called "Chuvashes" today? This Turkic nation is too strange. They live in the center of Kipchak world but not together with it. They have always stood aside.
    Lately spiritual culture of the Chuvashes who are called Christians today was absolutely different, non-Christian. People haven't forgotten it. It strangely reminds of ancient Turkic culture in Altai: Turkic beliefs have no analogues. The Chuvash language is peculiar, it is melodious, tuneful and very ancient, not every Turki can understand it… The Chuvashes are a living page of Turkic history, unfortunately, unread by world science as yet.
    Another part of Scythians remained in Ukraine, apparently. They've forgotten native language but barely perceptible details of their life remind of distant part of the nation. For example, original ornamental patterns of national embroidery are the same as Chuvash. They bear important information which is hereinafter discussed. Or funeral ceremonies… In a word, "Scythian" pages are full of Turkic mysteries.
    But following Altai pages are easily read: the Great Nations Migration of II - V centuries has clearly written them. Destiny opened the only way to the future for overpeopled Altai - through the steppe. There simply were no other ways. Only steppe remained almost unsettled territory being able to accept numerous people.
    But it took decades of incredible efforts and hard work before mountain-dwellers were able to live in steppe. Surrounded by environment new for them, where everything was not the same as in familiar mountains! It is an extremely important geographic prerequisite being the key to understanding of the whole Turkic history.
    Lack of forest, for instance, forced to search for new building materials. Climate compelled invention of dwellings of new type and creation of other forms of life. There were many things to think about - water, fuel, pastures, storage of supplies. Steppe could only accept strong, smart and hard-working nation. Formerly people rarely settled there for steppe life is too hard and nature is unfriendly and specific there.
    However, certain historians who've never seen the steppe "send" there different nations easily removing them for thousands of kilometers. They don't even mind that an unprepared person won't be able to do anything in the steppe - he will definitely perish.
    One couldn't pass a hundred kilometers there without a horse. Firstly, footwear will become worn out. Secondly, not being able to orient oneself and having no skills of steppe life one will never survive there: it is a natural zone of the Earth which is one of the hardest for a man. It is simpler even in the desert - at least there's no snow there and frosts never occur.
    But our historians "moved" entire nations to the steppe (with carts and cattle). Those armchair scientists have no idea of the fact that steppe means inclement winter with unbearable blizzards; that steppe also means hot summer with sizzling hot winds; that our steppe means total absence of people and reference points. Thus it appeared before the Turki, frightening them.

    Dozens of years passed before the Kipchaks managed to settle down there and called it "Our steppe". And they took their way to the West through the steppe.

    Great Nations Migration is a grand event. What was it like? It is a mistake to consider it a chaotic movement of unorganized crowd. "Nomad civilizations" theory, according to which people wandered through the steppe in search of pastures for cattle, is too primitive. It doesn't take reality into account. And it is absolutely unsuitable for the Turki with their high culture. Life was rather more complicated.
    Perhaps nations were prompted for migration by invention of a new - land! - mean of transport. Carts, drays and huts on the wheels… Maybe everything started otherwise - not with inventions. We will never know what actually happened: what was at first and what happened next. Another thing is clear: it was neither a crowd, neither file of people nor a horde of nomads that moved to the West in II century.
    Due to archeological findings it is known that new settlements, towns and villages were founded in steppe, roads and crossings were built… Territory developing was taking place - an unhurried and laborious work. Settlement doesn't mean "Hun raids" as many assert. And not even a cavalry charge. The Turki were getting deeper into the steppe by forty kilometers a year (!) on average. A distance of one horse march, however, it wasn't the same every year. And that is natural. Their way from Altai to Atlantic Ocean lasted for two and a half centuries.
    It hung heavy for two and a half centuries. People came to a new place, settled it and thereafter their elder children moved forward in order to start it over again. By tradition younger children stayed with their parents (by the way, people have been keeping this ancient tradition until now).
    The Great Nations Migration, whatever is said, was a well thought-out movement forward. It couldn't have started all of a sudden. They were preparing it for seven centuries! From the moment of invention of metallurgic furnace by the Turki. The Great Steppe wasn't crossed by the roads and irrigative channels at once. Postal communication (pits) wasn't established immediately. Dozens of years passed in working and searching for right solutions… Until at least a country between seven rivers appeared in the Steppe which became the prototype of Shambkala, as well as other oases in the steppe. (Academician A.H. Margulan wasn't permitted to explore them).
    They didn't appear as if by magic. They were built by the people who knew how to build and what to build.
    Of course it doesn't fit in "wild nomads" theory… But one can still find remains of that Turkic civilization in the Great Steppe. Besides, there are Chinese, Persian, Arab chronicles where it is mentioned.
    Two thousand years ago a wonderful country with amazing culture arose to the West of Altai. It was quickly turning into the center of world spiritual life. That is also an established fact of world history.
    People came to study there!.. A Jew named Jesuah was among the first newcomers, apparently. His memories of inevitable arrival of the riders - God's messengers - are reflected in the Revelation, the most ancient book of Christianity. Later the name "Jesuah" turned into "Jesus Christ"… He couldn't have met mounted troops and clergy worshipping the Heavenly God anywhere except for Altai.

    The Kipchaks yielded to nobody in spiritual, material or military activity. That is witnessed not only by ancient chronicles of the East but also by legends and narratives of various nations. A legend called "Aktash", for example, tells of a legendary Aktash-khan who was the first among the Turki who came to Volga and "conquered all the lands from Idel to the Caucasus". Neighbors sought for alliance with him… Also there are other stories in which light is shed on the past.
    But can any Turki call the names of great figures of that time today? Where can one read of their actions and campaigns?!
    Information of the Turkic country is available in famous Encyclopedia Britannica. But Europe is interested in Turkic (Kipchak) question as much as Eurocentric idea permits. It sees the whole world as an addition to Europe.
    Thus we don't know what Balamir-khan has done. How did Kharaton tsar rise? How was wide Donat immortalized? There's not a single line about them in "nomad" monographs.
    It seems the authors are even afraid to suppose that Kipchak tsars - Balamir, Kharaton, Donat - took steppe inhabitants out to Europe; that Byzantine and Rome rulers were declined before the Turki. The truth of Attila - the greatest of all great Turki, the proud of our nation - also hasn't been told.

    Attila completed the Great Migration of the Turki: Europe was groveling at his feet; it paid a levy… But today those events are described otherwise. The Turki don't know their history and they get just what's been left for them.
    It was neither Roman host nor united European army that defeated Attila - he was defeated by his own greatness. That's a heavy burden. It crushed Attila, he deprived his nation of peace! After his death one hundred eighty four (!) sons were left, the girls were nor taken into account. Could the pretenders to the throne keep still having Attila's blood in their veins? Certainly not. Cruel internal wars commenced… The Turki were fighting with themselves. Until slave's collar was put on their necks.
    The nation was split.
    Thus, from those splinters, the history of the Burgundies, Savoyes, Croats, Bavarians, Saxons, Catalans, Serbs, Czechs, Bulgarians and other "small nations" of Europe started, while in many European historians' opinions those nations all of sudden appeared out of nothing… As if by magic.
    After Attila the Great Steppe was divided into hostile chaganats, uluses and clans… Everybody was fighting with everybody. Internal wars never subsided. They've been lasting until now. Every new generation was born and departed with hostility against their fellow creatures.

    Thus the brothers argued between each other,
    And they washed up their swords,
    And they slashed each other to death,
    And, slashing, they swore and cursed,
    And one brother called another a cheat,
    And finally all to a man passed away…

    And their grandsons keep on fighting until now,
    For the truth
    On their way to a total destruction.

    These are the words by Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoi, a Russian poet. His family tree, blazonry and his poems in which he deeply and pathetically reproduced ancient steppe legends witness of his Turkic origin.

    Our Spiritual Wealth

    Much has was written about Huns, i.e. the Kipchaks, as though they swept across Europe and disappeared… And how did those wild hordes appeared? Who brought them up, who gave them clothes, who fed them? Who taught them military art, who armed them at last? Considerable material expenses were required.
    The strongest forces in the world couldn't appear all of a sudden! "Who doesn't raise colt will never ride a horse" - as Turkic proverb says. The Kipchaks were raising "their colt" for seven hundred years and then they became the riders who stirred up the world… A lot of questions were to be put in order to disclose two thousand-years-old events.
   
Having become interested in Altai geology I understood why new metallurgic technology appeared there: ore here is very rich in iron and useful admixtures… Then my attention was attracted by the words "Bagatur-Tendri" which remained only in Chinese chronicles. That was the name the Turki have given to Heavenly God who had disclosed the secrets of iron two and a half thousand years ago.
    And another question occurred: what do we know of ancient Turkic spiritual culture? People started to put together the crumbs of information relating to Tengri-khan.    
    Cult of a new God was connected with iron, apparently. But why was it so? It wasn't by accident that in the past iron was called a "heavenly metal"… Wasn't this cult "created" due to meteorites? Heavenly stones acquainted people with "metal of the sky"! Then a cult of Blacksmith-God appeared which developed into belief of people acquainted with force of heavenly metal… Religion could have started only from concreteness! Belief in Heavenly God, in his retributive protective iron sword.
    At first the Turki used to be the pagans. But new God changed them. Tengri became the heart of Turkic spiritual culture. The Most High made the nation invincible.
    Altai, which has granted the spirit of Heavenly God to the Turki, is the sacred place of Turkic nation! Ancestors deified the Motherland calling it heaven on earth. That acute feeling remained in blood of the Kipchaks. Nostalgia is a Turkic disease. It appeared when there was no Turkic language and speech was conceived. Those days people looked at Altai tops with delight and couldn't exist without them.
    Ancient Turki worshipped Uch-Sumer, the mountain of three tops. Legends have been composed about it. The center of the world! Praying and celebrations were performed there… Natives haven't been hunting and speaking loudly near that mountain until now - that's a holy place. It is indicative that in Buddhist mythology Sumeru mountain is a universal cosmogonical symbol.    
    Later on people began to worship other Altai tops - Khan-Tengri, Borus… They trusted ritual drawings and sacred texts to those holy mountains. Words and shapes on stone merged together and became a spiritual tradition for centuries. Hence solemnity of prayers and decoration of temples… Hence books and chronicles illustrations…
    But Kailasa mountain in Tibet was worshipped especially. It was the place of pilgrimage for thousands people. According to a legend, Tengri-khan used to come down there, to Kailasa.
    Contours of sacred Kailasa and Uch-Sumer tremulously delighted people who believed in Heavenly God. Those mountains prompted an idea of temple architecture to the Turki, apparently… Its simplicity and elegancy really amaze. These are the links of a single chain which originated in Altai.
    Traditions of mountains worship haven't been forgotten in the Steppe, that's for sure; people created the "copies" of sacred mountains on the plains. At first they built the barrows - handmade mounds, they gathered for a prayer near them. Afterwards temple became the symbol of a sacred mountain. But they still did their prayers near the temple, on a special ground… In the Steppe everything was as formerly in Altai: traditions were kept and enriched.
    The Kipchaks, keeping Heavenly God in their souls, embodied it on the stones. That was a reminder of the God, it cleansed the soul and inclined to contact with the Creator. Hence "icon" or "aicone" appeared… Profundity and freedom of thought of our ancestors are striking, as a matter of fact, the whole world was a temple for them covered with a dome of Eternal Blue Sky - Tengri.
    And the deeper the Turki perceived the shape of Tengri-khan, the more they turned to it: "God", "Alla", "Khodai", "Lord" - they used to call to the Most High… Every word had its meaning. Later those Turkic words, a bit modified, became a part of lexicon of other religions and nations.
   
    I was discovering the Motherland slowly - it was forgotten and profaned. But still it was mine!.. And thus I loved it more and more. I remember how I was impressed by the lines by Ivan Alexeevich Bunin. I recognized myself and all of us in his verses.

    They sneer at themselves,
    O, Motherland, they reprobate you
    With your simplicity and
    Squalid look of black huts…

    Thus a calm and impudent son
    Is ashamed of his mother -
    Who's tired, shy and mournful -
    Among his city friends,

    He looks with a pitiful smile
    At the one who's dragged herself for hundreds miles
    And kept the last penny
    For their date.

    Unfortunately, we've been "looking at the Steppe with a pitiful smile" for ages, without an understanding that it is our Great Motherland. We didn't know much about it, so we believed all the lies and turned aside from its "last penny"… I want the changes to come, I'm waiting for them and I write all my books for their sake: let my nation turn into invigorative koumiss out of tasteless milk again. Let the Pride awaken in them.

    Turkic roots are stretching from the depth of thousands years. Fragments of ancient Turkic literary works remained. Their language arouses a delight due to its profundity and vividness. And where are the books themselves? They've disappeared mysteriously. But their return is inevitable. For example, archives of Armenia and Georgia contain a lot of valuable material. There are ancient volumes written with Armenian script, but in Turkic language.
   
    Something must have remained in India, Tibet, Iran - those countries were contacting with the Great Steppe for a long while. For instance, ancient Turkic texts written in Brahmi are known to science. Buddhists keep them as sacred relics.
    In Europe there are other archives that will delight any scientists studying Turkic culture: for example, people remembered Turkic runes in Balkan Mountains until XIX centuries. Monks used them in cryptography.
    Kipchaks traditions in Russian culture haven't been studied yet. And they are rather intense. One can remember the lines by Derzhavin: "Tatar songs from hiding, as a beam, I'll keep for posterity" (marked by me - M.A.).
   
For example, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin used to retell Turkic tales: his kingdom of Saltan-Tsar and Buyan-Island have an exact geography - Kazan khanate. As well as the cove - it is a reference to Crimea… Creative work of Pushkin, as we see, is deeply rooted. Those roots are two thousand years old. Turkic poetry existed at that time, it was translated by Pushkin, and nowadays it delights everybody.
    Turkic traditions are typical for creative activity of Derzhavin, Aksakov, Gogol, Turgenev, Tyutchev, Bunin, Nabokov, Bulgakov and other classics whose forefathers came out of the Great Steppe. This is an absolutely clear page of literary criticism.

    European Kipchaks

    A map is an important historical document containing information as a thick book does. But one must be able to read it: the Grate Nations Migration left its trace on the map. At that times - in II - V centuries - a great steppe country - Desht-I-Kipchak appeared with its settlements, towns, villages, road stations.
    Turkic culture was dominative from Baikal to the Alps - over the whole steppe zone. Those days Europe "originated" in Siberia! Centuries passed, it seems everything's disappeared. But… the map keeps what people don't remember.
    Nikolai Rerich noticed that:

    We don't know. But they know.   
    The stones know. Even the trees know.
    And remember.
    Remember, who gave names to mountains and rivers.
    Who built former towns.
    Who gave names to immemorial countries.
    Words mysterious to us.
    They are all full of sense.

    Let's take the borders of Desht-I-Kipchak. They are safe! E.M. Murzaev, a prominent toponymycist, asserts: in Russian the word "barrow" used to mean "boarder" or "boundary" formerly. Why? Because barrows were a distinctive feature of Turkic lands. And over the barrows lay foreign lands.
    In the North the border of Desht-I-Kipchak was fixed by Moskva-river: the Northern bank belonged to the Finns and Ugros, the Southern belonged to the Turkish (Evidently, an explanation is necessary. For example, in XII century the border didn't constitute a strict line, as today. That was a vast zone (zone of communication, exchange and peace) where neighbors' interests were represented equally. These were Moskva-river, Oka and contiguous lands before the Slavs came there, that's why Turkic memorials adjoin Ugro-Finnic ones. For example, at first Nizhni Novgorod had a Turkic name - Bulgar - and was famous for its fairs for ages. European and Persian merchants often visited Bulgarian fairy.). Within Moscow several barrow groups are known, most of which are located on the Southern (right) bank. They also remained in former "Turkic" Moscow region - toponymy shows it. For example - Kolomenskoe, its ancient name Kolloma means "protection, security" in Turkic. Kapotnya means "High Settlement" (or "High Grass"), Kuntsevo means "Shelter" or "Coaching inn"… It is evident that those words are not of Slavic origin… But there are no barrows to the North of Moskva-river - another nation with another culture lived there, toponymy has other roots which are not Slavic either.
    In distant south Turkic country reached Iran, which is witnessed by barrows again. Border remained practically unchanged, the Turki still live there, but they are called Iranian Azerbaijanians.
    Between the northern and southern borders of Desht-I-Kipchak one can discover thousands Turkic place-names - a real treasury for toponymy! For example - opposite Moscow Kremlin, on the right bank, Balchug is located. There is no such a word in Russian, but in Turkic it means "morass", "mud". A real Turkic place-name.
    There are plenty of similar examples. As a rule, names of many ancient towns of steppe Russia have Turkic roots: Orel - "sloping road", Tula - "full", Bryansk (Birinchi, Bryanechsk) - "the first", "the main", Saratov (Sarytau) - "yellow mountain", Simbirsk (Simbir) - "lonely grave"… Kashira, Kolomna, Kaluga, Voronezh, Penza, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan… Lots different names, and each reminds forgetful Kipchaks of their Motherland.
    Maps retained the traces of aggressive wars of Ivan the Terrible and Peter the First. They show how Russia expanded at the cost of its neighbors. Map keeps a shady history which rewritten chronicles endeavor to rehabilitate. And you realize that it wasn't by accident that Kipenzai, a Turkic town, which was marked on European maps, became Russian Penza, Shapashkar became Cheboksary, Buruninezh became Voronezh, Sarytau became Saratov, Chelyaba became Chelyabinsk…

    In the time of Attila lands lying faraway from Altai were called "Alman" which means "distant" in Turkic. Hence "Allemande" name - modern Germany. Many "German tribes" were blue-eyed, broad-faced, with an obvious Kipchak appearance, and they spoke Turkic which is proved by their runic writing, ancient customs and national memory.
    The same can be said of part of population of France and Italy, England and Austria, Yugoslavia and Czechia. Judging by the archives, almost until the end of XVI century Turkic was spoken there. To tell the truth, during the Inquisition Western Church performed a "great cleansing" of the archives but fortunately certain documents remained intact. They allow to assert an unusual thing - the Turki lived in Central Europe… And the Turki remained there having forgotten themselves…
    It is clear that Turkic place-names remained on European maps. History of certain countries and nations is read according to them rather clearly.
    Here is the route of Burgund family. Burgund Ulus came to Europe from the Islands of Baikal mountain ridge - thus an eastern name "Burgund" appeared. After that they lived in near-Caspian steppes and later part of them settled in Caucasian foothills - in Karachai, where Burgund settlement is located. And in 435 an ulus headed by Attila's father reached modern France and founded Burgundy - Burgun-jurt… French Burgunds retained dishes of Turkic national cookery, certain details of garments and utensils, traditions and customs also haven't been forgotten. But native language has been lost.
    We can also follow the traces of Savoy ulus. That place-name is also a point on the line on the map which originates in Altai… It also concurs with the Great Migration. And the word "tering" may serve as a compass for a historical travel of that kind.
    "Tering" means "something plentiful" in Turkic. For example, they used to call a vast, fertile valley that way. One can come across that place-name from Balhash (that lake was formerly called Tering-Kul) to Central Europe. Is it a coincidence? Certainly not. According to Western European literature, Terings (Tyurings), Burgunds and other "German tribes" were Attila's companions. They were all excellent riders and they carried war under banners with crosses… Thus the lines about the Terings, of their skills in horse breeding, written by a historian studying Jordan don't seem that strange… Native Europeans didn't breed horses at that time. And they didn't drink koumiss while the Turki were very fond of it.

    Let's have a look at the nap of Danube - a great deal of Kipchak names. By the way, in Turkic the word "Balkans" means "chain of mountains covered with forest". One of Azerbaijan regions has the same name; marvelous mountains covered with forests are situated there.
    They say Montenegrins are nicknamed "Karataevtsians" in the Balkans. Why is it so? One cannot answer not knowing Turkic language. But the answer is simple. "Kara" means "black", "tau" means "mountains". It turns out that "Montenegrins" and "Karataevtsians" mean the same.
    The number of Turkic place-names on the map of Eurasia is a little less than the number of stars in the sky. But still it is hard to read about them. To tell the truth, several books were issued which related to that matter. But they were issued abroad. A narrow circle of scientists is in the know. One of them is Eduard Makarovich Murzaev, a famous geographer. He wrote that book called "Turkic Place-Names", possibly, the most important book in his life… The book was edited only in five hundred copies which was a kind of mockery.
    The borders of the Great Steppe can be also vividly seen in England. They remind of Anglo-Saxon campaigns there which were headed by the Turki in V-VI centuries (Saki or Saxon ulus?).

    Having defeated the aboriginals, the Kipchaks founded their "islander" state and built a city called Kent, which gave the name to a jurt which, in its turn, became a kingdom later. "Kent" means "fortress made of stone" in Turkic. That was a bridgehead for movement into the heart of islands. On the opposite side, on the continent over the channel, they built a town called Calais ("Kala" is also "fortress" in Turkic, but not made out of stone and having a wall); and as far as we know Anglo-Saxon campaigns started there and that was the place where a crossing over Straight of Dover was prepared. The map confirms this information.
    But the most interesting thing, according to toponymy, lies on the surface. "Eng" means "extract" in an ancient Turkic word-combination. Doesn't the word "England" originate from "Extracted land"?.. A controversial point, isn't it? Maybe. But the islands were called Albion until the Turki came there!
    There's another fact - at first for reflection, and then for a dispute - in England Church didn't recognize the Pope, only George the Great managed to gain the confidence. Englishmen followed traditions only of Eastern ceremonies. Why? How did they appear on the islands? They were called Arians, why? The first abbot had a Turkic name "Aidan" (which means "light"), he taught the aboriginals to believe in Heavenly God. Pastor made his way through the islands with a translator. One can wonder again: why?
    Besides, how did barrows which have become a point of interest long ago, appear in faraway England? Similar barrows are located in other lands of the Great Steppe. But there are none in Scotland… And do the Englishmen know that polo, their favorite game (with sticks on the horses), appeared in Altai before the Great Nations Migration? They played not with a wooden ball, but with their enemy's head covered into a leather sack. The Turki haven't forgotten that game, as well as many others.
    Kipchak blood didn't cool down in veins of certain Englishmen. Appearance and behavior disclose their roots… It seems English Kipchaks have forgotten the proverb used by their ancestors long before Anglo-Saxon campaigns: "Don't wear foreign pants". One can't be hidden in them.
     The Kipchaks as though left the history having conquered half of the world. After each significant internal war uluses left Desht-I-Kipchak one after another either turning into a "new" nation or assimilating with other ones. The Turki melted away as snow in the sun.
   
Neither earth nor see have opened wide,
Pestilence and infections haven't weakened us, so who and why -
O, my Turkic nation, - give me an answer, who and why has
Brought your law and power to ruins?

You, by yourself, in front of your land,
In front of the Chagan which wished to serve you,
In front of yourself - you've sinned a sin:
You've chosen Evil as a mortal lot.

For there was no armored one
Who's come to defeat you, take you and brake you up!
For there was no one whose sward was sharper than yours,
To conquer you, make you bow down and raze you to the ground!
O my Turkic nation…

    Anatoli Prelovskiy, a poet, translated the posthumous message of Kyul-Tegin, a Turkic leader, in this way. It seems it was yesterday when the text was struck in ancient runes on the stone, while it is more than a thousand years old.
    Why, did Evil really enter into us?.. No! Evil isn't everlasting. A word from enemy's mouth was poisonous for the Kipchaks, so let the true word be their medicine.

	Adji Murad. Asia's Europa. Volume 1 (Europa, Turkic, the Great Steppe)   Author's Preface We are the Kipchaks! Altai Cradle The Great Nations Migration Our Spiritual Wealth European Kipchaks Part One “Moscow Stories” Saint Cyril and Methodius - Who Were They? “Mist” over the Baptism of Russia Rewriting History Kipchak Kiev Pictures on the Pages of the Chronicles Main Sources Part Two The World of the Wild Field Wild Field – The Great Steppe Main Sources Part Three Tengri-Khan and Christ, His Foster Son The Vanished Heritage Splits and Splitters Main Sources Part Four Desht-I-Kipchak – an Unknown Country? Main Sources Appendix Near St. George Spring “Gyurdzhi's Day” Different Georges The Voice of Forgotten Motherland The Mystery of the Cross “Iron Gates” Gregoris - George Diocletian Who Suffered Not Being Guilty Every Nation Has Its Own George Beginning of the Catastrophe The Great Enlightener of Armenia Contradictions Let the Christians Be the Christians again “Where Will this Lead? Where to Go?” Dzhalgan Settlement Spring of the Known Legend Notes and Comments to the Appendix Bibliography