Revision as of 12:51, 4 April 2002 view source67.193.76.108 (talk) Corrected spelling of Kazakhstan twice; exact date of conversion not known (740 C.E. is a vague estimate based on one unreliable account); restructured & linked to Khazaria page; fixed founding date← Previous edit | Revision as of 12:59, 4 April 2002 view source Zundark (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers29,661 editsm linkNext edit → | ||
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The '''Khazars''' were a semi-nomadic people from central Asia. They founded the independent ] in the ] C.E. in the southeastern part of today's ], near the ] and the ]. In addition to western ], the Khazar kingdom also included territory in what is now eastern ], southern ], and ]. | The '''Khazars''' were a semi-nomadic people from central Asia. They founded the independent ] in the ] C.E. in the southeastern part of today's ], near the ] and the ]. In addition to western ], the Khazar kingdom also included territory in what is now eastern ], southern ], and ]. | ||
Their first significant appearance in history is their aid to the campaign of the ] emperor Heraclius against the Persians. During the ] and ] they fought a series of wars against the Islamic Arab Empire. Although they stopped the Arab expansion into Eastern Europe for some time after these wars, they were forced to withdraw behind the Caucasus, as well. Afterwards they extended their territories from the ] in the east to the north of ] in the west. | Their first significant appearance in history is their aid to the campaign of the ] emperor ] against the Persians. During the ] and ] they fought a series of wars against the Islamic Arab Empire. Although they stopped the Arab expansion into Eastern Europe for some time after these wars, they were forced to withdraw behind the Caucasus, as well. Afterwards they extended their territories from the ] in the east to the north of ] in the west. | ||
The Khazar royalty and nobility adopted ], though the majority of the population continued to follow paganism. In the 8th or 9th century, their king, Bulan, was converted to Judaism. A later king, Obadiah, strengthened Judaism, inviting rabbis into the kingdom and building synagogues. His supreme court consisted of two Jews, two Christians, two Muslims, and a heathen. Religious toleration was maintained for the kingdom's three hundred plus years. By the year 950 Judaism had become a widespread faith. | The Khazar royalty and nobility adopted ], though the majority of the population continued to follow paganism. In the 8th or 9th century, their king, Bulan, was converted to Judaism. A later king, Obadiah, strengthened Judaism, inviting rabbis into the kingdom and building synagogues. His supreme court consisted of two Jews, two Christians, two Muslims, and a heathen. Religious toleration was maintained for the kingdom's three hundred plus years. By the year 950 Judaism had become a widespread faith. | ||
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Revision as of 12:59, 4 April 2002
The Khazars were a semi-nomadic people from central Asia. They founded the independent Khazar kingdom in the 7th century C.E. in the southeastern part of today's Europe, near the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus. In addition to western Kazakhstan, the Khazar kingdom also included territory in what is now eastern Ukraine, southern Russia, and Crimea.
Their first significant appearance in history is their aid to the campaign of the Byzantine emperor Heraclius against the Persians. During the 7th and 8th centuries they fought a series of wars against the Islamic Arab Empire. Although they stopped the Arab expansion into Eastern Europe for some time after these wars, they were forced to withdraw behind the Caucasus, as well. Afterwards they extended their territories from the Caspian Sea in the east to the north of Black Sea in the west.
The Khazar royalty and nobility adopted Judaism, though the majority of the population continued to follow paganism. In the 8th or 9th century, their king, Bulan, was converted to Judaism. A later king, Obadiah, strengthened Judaism, inviting rabbis into the kingdom and building synagogues. His supreme court consisted of two Jews, two Christians, two Muslims, and a heathen. Religious toleration was maintained for the kingdom's three hundred plus years. By the year 950 Judaism had become a widespread faith.
In the 10th century the empire began to decline due to the attacks of both the Rusins and other Turkic tribes, and their political significance greatly diminished toward the end of the 12th century.
Some modern anti-Semites claim that almost all Jews of today are not really descendants of the Israelites at all, but rather that all Jews are descendants of the Khazars alone; historians, however, reject this claim.
See also: Khazaria.Com