The Khazars in South Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia

The Khazars are a Turkish community that dominated steppes on the north of the Black Sea which extends from today's coast of Dnieper to Etile and the Caucasus. Although they are called by different names in different sources, it is clearly stated that they are Turks in the Arab Byzantine and Chinese sources. This community, who began to spread towards today's Georgia, Azerbaijan and Eastern Anatolia Region at the beginning of VII. Century, was becoming effective in the Eastern Roman-Sassanid competition, especially in Eastern Anatolia, by eliminating the Bulgarian State in 665. The Turks did not come to the South Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia with the Khazars for the first time. There are indications that Turks' existence in this region dates back to the 3000 years BC. However, their political activities can be trace backed VII. century BC in accordance with the information provided by the sources. These Turkish raids are also the result of an effort to find habitation and settling in this habitation, in otherwords a new homeland. Khazars' spreading over the region is a result of this homeland search. As a matter of fact, it is seen that many Turkic communities connected to the Khazars have settled in the Caucasus and especially in Eastern Anatolia and built residential areas. Although they have been systematically modified over time, many demographic data and other information have reached today. These shows that it is not possible to understand the developments in the respective region without knowing the activities and impact of the Khazars in the region. Key Words: Khazars, Eastern Anatolia, Caucasus, Transcaucasia.