THE ORIGINS OF THE ANCIENT KYRGYZ PEOPLE

Аннотация

The formation of the Kyrgyz people has been shaped through complex ethno- historical processes since ancient times. This article explores issues related to the ethnogenesis of the Kyrgyz, their place within the Turkic language family, ethnonyms and toponyms found in ancient written sources, as well as migratory and political factors during various historical periods. The stages of development of the Kyrgyz language, its connections to the Altaic language unity, and the settlement areas of ancient nomadic tribes are analyzed based on historical sources. The article highlights the significant role played by Eastern Turkestan, the Tien Shan, and thePamir-Alay regions in theformation oftheKyrgyz people. Keywords: Kyrgyz people, ethnogenesis, Altaic languages, Turkic languages, ancient tribes, Eastern Turkestan, Tien Shan, SimaQian, Barthold, Xiongnu, Tiele tribes, historical sources.