Göktürks (First Khaganate)

The Göktürks or Kök Türks (Celestial/Blue Turks) are a nomadic confederation of Turkic peoples in medieval Inner Asia.

The Göktürks, under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan (d. 552) and his sons, succeed the Rouran as the main power in the region and establish the First Turkish or Türk Empire (552-581), which rapidly expands to rule huge territories in Central Asia.

The Türks interact extensively with various dynasties based in north China, and for significant periods exercise considerable control over the lucrative Silk Road trade.

The First Türk Empire collapsed in 581, and fifty years later Kutlugh (d. 692) established the Second Turkish or Türk empire (683-734), which controldmuch of the eastern portion of the former First Türk Empire and produced the Orkhon inscriptions that have survived to the present.