Turkestan

Turkestan,^[a] also spelled Turkistan (from Persian: ترکستان, romanized: Torkestân, lit. 'land of the Turks'), is a historical region in Central Asia corresponding to the regions of Transoxiana and East Turkestan (Xinjiang).^[1][2] The region is located northwest of modern day China, and directly to the east of the Caspian Sea. Turkestan is primarily inhabited by Turkic peoples, as well as Russian and Tajik-Persian minorities. Turkestan is subdivided into Afghan Turkestan, Russian Turkestan, and East Turkistan (the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China).^[3] Today, "Turkestan" mainly^{[citation needed]} refers to Xinjiang, where Turkic peoples constitute more than half of the population.

Throughout history, the area has been conquered and reconquered by several different groups and countries, including the Huns, the Chinese, Arab forces, the Persian Empire, various Turkic forces, and the Mongols. The Qara Khitai also included the majority of Turkestan's land.

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