City among the Old Turks

Urbanism among the Ancient Turks encompasses settled life practices shaped by environmental necessities, economic demands, and political objectives within a society traditionally associated with nomadic lifestyles. Historical evidence from archaeological findings and written sources confirms that Turkish communities were not exclusively nomadic; they exhibited advanced examples of urbanization during various periods. For the Ancient Turks, urbanism was not merely a form of settlement but also a symbol of power, a mode of cultural expression, and a vehicle of civilization.

Settlement and Accommodation Culture among the Turks (TRT Avaz)

The Concept of City among the Turks

In ancient Turkish sources, the concept of “city” is expressed through various terms. The most common is the word “balık.” This term does not merely denote a city but also carries layered meanings such as “fortress,” “palace,” and “settlement center.” Other significant terms for urban centers include “kent/kant/kan/ken,” “il” (state/administrative region), and “uluş” (society/community).

The etymology of the word “balık” is linked to “balçık” (mud), reflecting the use of adobe and earth as primary building materials in these settlements.

Earliest Signs of Urbanism

The earliest recorded efforts by the Turks to establish cities appear in Chinese sources describing the Huns. However, systematic urbanism became particularly prominent during the Göktürks and subsequently the Uyghur State periods. The cities constructed during these eras served not only as residential centers but also as political and administrative hubs, trade routes, control points, and arenas of cultural interaction.

First Cities

The 7th-century observations of the Chinese traveler Xuanzang describe numerous advanced cities in Eastern Turkestan, including Kumul, Koço (Kara Hoca), Karaşar, Kuça, Aksu, Suyab, Talas, Samarkand, and Bukhara.

In addition, other cities mentioned in ancient inscriptions and identified through archaeological remains include: Ordu Balık (Kashgar, Sulek), Balagasun, Yengi Balık, Beşbalık, Can Balık, Barçınlıg Kent, Taşkent (Chach), Özkent, Talas, Suyab, and Yafgu.

Physical Structure of Cities

Ancient Turkish cities typically consisted of three main zones:

• Inner Citadel (Hisar): The central area housing rulers, the military class, and administrative buildings.
• Civilian Settlement: Dense, narrow streets lined with shops and marketplaces inhabited by artisans, tradespeople, and the general population.
• Outer Perimeter (Agricultural Zones): Areas designated for orchards, gardens, fields, pastures, and cemeteries.

Prominent structures within these cities included caravanserais, city walls, watchtowers, palaces and administrative buildings, mosques and tombs (especially after the influence of Islam), water channels, künk systems, and craft workshops.

Factors Influencing Urban Foundation

The establishment and development of cities required favorable conditions across several domains:

• Geography: Arid and harsh climatic conditions supported nomadic life but also created localized demands for permanent shelters.
• Trade: Commerce in silk and minerals with China, Iran, and Byzantium transformed cities into major trade centers.
• Military Strategy: Cities established along frontiers played a crucial role in defense and military mobility.
• Administrative Centralization: The growing complexity of state organization necessitated permanent centers of governance.

Interaction and Cultural Characteristics

Turkish cities developed through intensive interaction with neighboring sedentary civilizations. Chinese, Sogdian, Iranian, and Arab influences are evident in architecture and urban planning. However, these influences were blended with the nomadic traditions of the Turks to produce a unique synthesis.

Common features in urban planning during the Hun, Göktürk, and Uyghur periods include:

• A central administrative building
• Animal markets and large marketplaces
• Water systems and irrigation channels
• Structures built from adobe, stone, and wood

Urban Administration

Ancient Turkish cities were administered as extensions of the central political authority. They were governed either by local beys or by governors appointed from the center. In both cases, city administrators were required to demonstrate loyalty to the central power. These officials were responsible for maintaining military control as well as overseeing tax collection and trade regulation.

The Relationship Between Nomadism and Sedentism

Although nomadism and sedentism are often viewed as conflicting lifestyles, among the Ancient Turks these two modes of life were deeply intertwined. Nomadic traditions were integrated into the architecture and social structure of cities, while sedentary life evolved not merely as a necessity but as a strategic choice.

The Turks successfully integrated the mobility and economic flexibility of nomadic life into their urban existence, enabling them to establish cities while preserving their warrior and dynamic character.

Urbanism among the Ancient Turks did not begin with the Seljuks after the advent of Islam; it has deep roots extending back to the earlier Hun, Göktürk, and Uyghur periods. Urbanism was shaped by the wisdom of the nomadic past, influenced by neighboring civilizations, yet consistently retained a distinctively Turkish character.