The spelling of the word "Khazars" can be a bit confusing for some people. One reason for this is that it is actually a transliteration from Cyrillic, which uses a different alphabet than the English language. The correct pronunciation for "Khazars" is /ˈkɑːzərz/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "kh" is actually a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the "ch" sound in the Scottish word "loch". The "z" at the end is pronounced as a voiced alveolar fricative.
Khazars were a semi-nomadic people who lived in the 7th to 10th centuries in the region located in and around what is now modern-day Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine. They formed a strategic empire known as Khazaria that spanned across vast territories, covering parts of Europe and Asia. The Khazars practiced a mix of pagan, Jewish, and Turkic religious traditions.
One significant aspect of the Khazars' history is their conversion to Judaism. It is believed that around the 8th century, the Khazar ruling elite, led by their king, decided to adopt Judaism as their state religion. This decision caused controversy and debate among historians, and some argued that the conversion was merely political and aimed to balance power between the Muslim and Christian neighboring empires.
The Khazars were active in trade, establishing diplomatic relations and cultural exchanges with various neighboring territories, including the Byzantine Empire, Islamic Caliphates, and Eastern Slavs. As skilled horsemen and organized warriors, they repelled invasions from both Muslim and Christian forces, maintaining their independence for centuries.
Despite their historical significance, the Khazar Empire eventually faced a decline and disintegration due to internal conflicts and invasions from the Rus' and Mongols. Today, the legacy of the Khazars remains a topic of scholarly curiosity and debate, with research attempting to unveil their genetic, linguistic, and cultural influence on subsequent populations.
The word "Khazars" is derived from the name of the medieval Turkic nomadic people known as the Khazars. The etymology of the word "Khazars" itself is uncertain. Historians believe that the name may have originated from various Turkic words such as "qağan" (meaning ruler or emperor) or "xazar" (meaning wanderer or vagabond). Additionally, some theories suggest that the name could have derived from a Mongolian word, "khasar", meaning "to wander" or "to move around". However, due to the limited historical records and uncertainties surrounding the origins of the Khazars, the exact etymology of the word remains speculative.