Who were the Seljuks?
Q: Who were the Seljuks?
A: The Seljuks were a Turkic Sunni Muslim dynasty who ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries.
Q: What was their empire known as?
A: Their empire was known as Great Seljuk Empire that stretched from Anatolia to Afghanistan.
Q: What religion did they practice?
A: The Seljuks practiced Sunni Islam.
Q: How did they treat non-Sunnis?
A: Non-Sunnis such as Shia Muslims and Zoroastrians were heavily oppressed under Seljuk rule, as the Seljuks saw themselves as protectors of Sunni Islam and the Abbasid Caliphate.
Q: Where did the House of Seljuq originate from?
A: The House of Seljuq originated from a branch of Kinik Oghuz Turks who lived in the steppes north of the Caspian and Aral Seas in modern day Turkmenistan in the 9th century.
Q: Are there any present day descendants of the Western Turks?
A: Yes, present-day inhabitants of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan are descendants of Western Turks.
Q: Did they fight against Christians during First Crusade?
A: Yes, during First Crusade,the Seljuks fought against Christians.