The Shaman and Tengri: A Critique of 'Steppe Historiography' (Book)

The Shaman and Tengri: A Critique of 'Steppe Historiography' (Şaman ve Tengri: Bir 'Bozkır Tarihyazımı' Eleştirisi) is a work by the historian Ahmet Demirhan that critically examines steppe-centric narratives of early Turkish history. Published in August 2024 as part of Dergâh Publications' History series, the 456-page text discusses how the image of the “steppe” was constructed as an ideological tool that does not align with historical reality.

The book examines the conception of the steppe as it has been shaped by legends such as the Oghuzname, Book of Dede Korkut, Ötüken, and Ergenekon. It argues that this approach, which it defines as “steppe historiography,” is a Eurocentric geopolitical construct. It also provides a critical evaluation of whether concepts such as the Kayı clan, tribal structures, Central Asian tradition, and the conflict between law and custom were built on realistic foundations or on mythical narratives.

• The Construction of the Steppe Concept: A critique is offered against Indo-European-biased historical theories that re-envision the steppe as a nomadic, disorganized geography.
• The Relationship Between Mythology and History: The ways in which legends are transformed into historical narratives and the influence of mythological figures derived from steppe culture are explained.
• Ethnic and Political Formation: The construction of national identity is examined through the political formations of the steppe rather than its anthropological structure.
• Critical Turkology: The extent to which anthropological, ethnographic, and cosmological concepts in Turkology literature align with historical realities is questioned.

Demirhan uses an academic and critical language, with a narrative style supported by extensive quotations. The book adopts an approach based on objective arguments while providing a multifaceted analysis of the steppe theme. Conceptual clarity and a questioning perspective are the fundamental discursive characteristics of the work.