The Turkestan (Persan: RTL Turkish F ترکستان, : Türkistan, literally the “Country of the Turks” ) is the old name given to the areas of Central Asia between the Mongolia, the Tibet, the India, the Afghanistan, the Iran and the Caspian Sea. It holds its name because of appearance of the first Turks in this area. Today still of many people Turkish, the Central Asia with the Bulgaria while passing by the the Caucasus and the Anatolia, regards the Turkestan as their historical cradle.

The Turkestan initially was occupied in the west by Iranian people and in the east by people Tokhariens, of which the Yuezhi, which had created the first known empire of the Central Asia. The Yuezhi were replaced by the Xiongnu at second century BC They fought with the Chinese to dominate the oriental party of this territory.

One traditionally divides the Turkestan into two zones:

• Western Turkestan : it is originally the field of Iranian people , such as the Sogdiens, Bactriens or Khorasmiens. At the 6th century, the Blue Turks (Köktürks, called Tujue by the Chinese), started from Mongolia, establish their domination there. They are then replaced by the Arab , then by the Perses. The latter bring there their language, which will remain known under the name of Tadjik . Various people Turkish settle there then, the Uzbek last being the , starting from 1500. The zone is conquered by the Russian at the 18th century. Between 1924 in 1929, it was cut out in socialist republics Soviet (RSS) of Turkménistan, of Ouzbékistan, Tadjikistan, Kirghizstan and Kazakhstan. Today the Turkish-speaking people (Turkmènes, Uzbek, Kazakh, Kyrgyz) are majority in the zone. This says live also various Iranian people there (persophones) such as the Tadjiks.

• Eastern Turkestan or Chinese (current Xinjiang): its population originally consists of Saces, Iranian language, and Tokhariens. During, it is dominated by various wandering people coming from Mongolia, like by the Chinese. The Ouïghours, of Turkish language, settle at the 9th century and assimilate there Saces and the Tokhariens. To the 18th century, the zone is annexed in China by the Mandchous. Today the Ouïghours populate the Eastern Turkestan mainly, even if this area is Chinese.

It should be noted that since decades of many independence movements Ouïghours tried to free the area from Eastern Turkestan (called Xinjiang by the Chinese) of the supervision of Beijing (revolts with the XIX {{E}} and 20th centuries, most important being those of 1863,1933 with Kachgar, 1944 in Yili, 1954 with Khotan, 1990 in Akto and 1997 with Ghulja). These movements were violently repressed by the Chinese authorities which assimilate, especially after the Attentats of September 11th, 2001, the freedom fighters with terrorists. Abroad, the diaspora ouïghoure remains very active to make hear her cause, in particular in various Turkish-speaking countries like the Turkey, the Azerbaïdjan and the countries of Central Asia, but also in Occident, as in Germany (helped by the important Turkish immigrant community in this country) and with the the United States.

External bond

• Gate on the Turkish-speaking countries

Simple: Turkestan