Existence and impact of foreign religions in around the steppe culture (From the beginning to the end of the Uyghur period)

As it is generally accepted, the Turks appeared on the stage of history in the historical geography that is defined as Central Asia today. Although it has various geographical and climatic differences, this geography, which mostly includes the Bozkır land, has found an area where Turkish culture comes to life. It is understood that in these areas where both economic, political and social life is shaped, religious life has some unique features. However, it is understood that the Steppe communities also came into contact with foreign religions that came to life and developed outside their own geography. One of the most important means for steppe peoples to come into contact with foreign religions has been the Silk Road, which is essentially a commercial value. In addition to the desire to establish dominance on the Silk Road, the relations with the Sogdians, who were the influential elements of these commercial routes, also caused the Turks to meet the cultures and religions they did not know. In the lives of the communities that exist in the steppe culture, it is intertwined with the elements of religious life, and these religions are not only in terms of belief; It has also been seen that there are commercial, economic and political effects. Culture and religion carried through the Silk Road taught new elements to steppe communities. Another factor that enables steppe peoples to come into contact with foreign religions is political, military and economic reasons. It is known that during the Gok-Turk and Uyghur Khanate, some Khans contacted foreign religions such as Buddhism and Manichaeism for such reasons and showed a certain tendency towards these religions. However, the Old Turks living in the steppe geography, although they had contact with foreign religions, did not give up their own beliefs. They combined those foreign religions with their own beliefs.