History
What region did early Turkic peoples originate from?
Central Asia (the steppe region)
What language family do Turkic languages belong to?
The Turkic language family
What is the traditional portable home used by many Central Asian Turkic nomads?
Yurt (or ger)
What religion do most Turkic people follow today?
Islam
What is the name of the sea located west of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and east of Azerbaijan and is important to the region?
The Caspian Sea
What famous land route helped spread Turkic culture and trade?
The Silk Road
What is the most widely spoken Turkic language today?
Turkish
What is a common traditional Turkic musical instrument?
Dombra (also acceptable: kopuz)
What was the main early belief system of Turkic peoples?
Tengrism or Shamanism
Which Turkic people live primarily in western China?
Uyghurs
What empire was founded by Turkic people in Anatolia after the Seljuks?
The Ottoman Empire
What type of word-building system do Turkic languages use, where endings are added to change meaning?
Agglutination
What is the name of the traditional fermented horse milk drink?
Kumis (fermented horse milk)
Who is Tengri in Turkic belief?
The sky god / supreme deity
What is the name of the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea where some Turkic peoples live?
The Caucasus
What is the name of the early Turkic inscriptions found in Mongolia?
The Orkhon Inscriptions
What do we call words that sound similar and have the same meaning across Turkic languages?
Cognates
What is the importance of horses in Turkic culture?
Horses were central for transport, warfare, and identity
What is the term for a spiritual figure who communicates with spirits in early Turkic traditions?
Shaman
What is the name of the mountain range that stretches across Central Asia and influenced migration and settlement?
Tian Shan (or Altai Mountains acceptable)
Which Turkic khaganate is considered one of the first major Turkic states?
The Gokturk Khaganate
What linguistic feature is common in Turkic languages?
Vowel harmony
What is the significance of epic storytelling in Turkic traditions?
Epic storytelling preserved history, values, and identity
Which medieval Turkic state is believed to have adopted Judaism?
The Khazar Khaganate
What is the name of the historical migration route from Siberia to the Americas?
The Bering Land Bridge