In eastern Europe, the fur trade route and the Turks

The Turks, one of the most important representatives of steppe civilization, adopted a nomadic lifestyle, but they did not lead merely an ordinary nomadic life. Developments such as agriculture, industry, and urbanization reached an advanced level in the ancient Turkish lands, depending on the conditions. In this regard, the field of trade was also among these developments. In fact, the Silk Road, one of the most important routes in world trade history, was controled by various Turkish communities, and the Turks played critical roles in the cultural interactions along this route. The route known as the Fur Road, which developed in parallel to the Silk Road and connected the northern lands of the Black Sea to Asia via a different path, is notable for showing the level the Turks had reached at that point and the vibrant trade life in the region. The Fur Road, so named due to the intense trade in furs in the region, was controled by many Turkish communities who migrated to Eastern Europe, and records showing the vibrant trade life along the route were preserved in the sources of the period. As an independent field of study, the Fur Road (which received little attention globally and almost none in Turkey) holds critical importance for Turkish cultural and political history. Therefore, it is important to examine the trade materials, taxes, markets, established cities, as well as the role of Turkish communities in the region.