Abstract:

The area called the steppes where the Turkish tribes emerged consists of the geographical area known as Central Asia, North Asia and Eastern Europe. These communities that lived in this region made their presence felt over time and created a culture of their own in this region. These Turkish communities living in this geography had an army that protected the borders of the region in which they existed and was constantly at arms. Therefore, the understanding of the army of these tribes did not have a non-continuous army that came together only in wartime. It was an army in which everyone who could hold a gun was a soldier, and every soldier was ready for war at any moment. One of the most basic features of this army organization was that it was free and permanent. Especially since the Huns, they have attained a more institutionalized appearance and a large proportion of them consisted of cavalry. The steppe geography stretching from China to Europe, insufficient economic resources, as well as harsh climatic conditions and the struggle between the tribes have led to the period before Christ. Undoubtedly, this situation paved the way for the military organization to gain importance. This military structure gained experience day by day and created many different tactics and strategies by applying new systems and techniques. Over time, society became integrated with the army and military service became both a general and an individual feature. This study has been prepared in order to reveal what these societies take as a basic element while forming their understanding of the army, based on the information and findings about the Steppe Turkish tribes, on a ground where the army-society dichotomy is so intertwined. With this study, it is thought that the framework of the military structure that will come up in the next period can be determined more easily and the first formations of some permanent elements can be revealed more easily.

Keywords: