Kipchaks

Overview
The Kipchaks played a significant role in Eurasian history from approximately the 9th to the 13th century. Originally hailing from the Central Asian steppes, the Kipchaks spread across a vast area from the Volga River to the Danube, leaving a lasting impact on medieval Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
History
Origin
The Kipchaks are believed to have originated in the region north of the Aral Sea, near present-day Kazakhstan. They were part of a broader Turkic migration across the Eurasian steppes that began in the early medieval period. 
Early history
By the 10th century, the Kipchaks had settled in the western steppes, where they allied and clashed with neighboring tribes, such as the Khazars and Pechenegs. By the late 11th century, they were known in various historical sources as Cumans in Europe, who formed a loosely organized confederation known as the Cuman–Kipchak confederation.
Interactions with other nations
The Kipchaks frequently came into conflict with the Kievan Rus' principalities to the northwest and the Khwarezmian Empire to the southeast. These encounters ranged from trading interactions to outright warfare, with Kipchak forces often acting as mercenaries for regional powers. 

However, the most significant challenge the Kipchaks faced was from the Mongol Empire. In the early 13th century, the Mongols launched a series of devastating invasions into Kipchak territories, eventually defeating them around 1237–1240 and bringing their territory under Mongol colonization.
Kipchaks across Eurasia
Society
Kipchak society was highly mobile and structured around clans and tribal alliances. Like many other nomadic cultures, they were skilled horsemen, archers, and warriors. Their economy was primarily based on animal husbandry, particularly the raising of sheep, cattle, and horses. 
Lifestyle
This supported their nomadic lifestyle. The Kipchaks were skilled craftsmen, producing leather goods, textiles, and other tradeable items. The Kipchaks adhered to a shamanistic belief system rooted in the natural world, though they later came into contact with Islam and Christianity through their interactions with neighboring states. 
Religions
Some Kipchaks converted to Christianity under Byzantine influence, while others adopted Islam, especially after their integration into Muslim polities such as the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt.
Language
Legacy
Today, the Kipchaks' legacy endures in the ethnic and linguistic makeup of regions they once dominated. The Kipchak identity was eventually absorbed by other Turkic and Slavic groups, but their influence can still be observed in the cultural traditions, languages, and historical records of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Related pages
 Tocharians
 Middle Ages
 Seljuk Empire
 Song Dynasty
 Turkic languages
 Mamluk Sultanate

More reading
 Golden, Peter B. Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1992.
 This book provides a comprehensive overview of Turkic peoples' origins, including the Kipchaks, and covers their cultural, political, and social developments across history.
 Golden, Peter B. The Turkic World of Mahmud al-Kashgari. Journal Article. In: Compendium of the Turkic Dialects. Translated by Dankoff, Robert. Harvard University, 1982.
 This work examines Turkic dialects, including Kipchak, in the context of historical linguistics and offers insights into Kipchak language influences.
 Spinei, Victor. The Great Migrations in the East and Southeast of Europe from the Ninth to the Thirteenth Century. Brill, 2006.
 A scholarly work that delves into the migration patterns of nomadic groups like the Kipchaks and their interactions with Eastern European powers.
 István Vásáry. Cumans and Tatars: Oriental Military in the Pre-Ottoman Balkans, 1185–1365. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
 This book discusses the roles of the Cumans (often synonymous with Kipchaks in Western sources) and Tatars in Eastern European military and political history.
 Korobeinikov, Dimitri. "The Cumans in Byzantium: Migration Patterns and Effects on State and Society." In Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (2005).
 An article exploring the Kipchak-Cuman influence in Byzantium, including migration patterns and their impacts on the Byzantine Empire.
 Poliak, A. N. The History of the Turks and Khazars in Eastern Europe. University of Pennsylvania, 1951.
 Focuses on the interactions between Turkic peoples like the Kipchaks and the Khazars, examining how these interactions shaped Eastern European history.
 Bosworth, Clifford E. The Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Handbook. Edinburgh University Press, 1967.
 This handbook includes the Kipchaks' integration into the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and other Muslim dynasties, shedding light on their role in Islamic military and political systems.
Category:Eurasia
Category:Middle Ages
Category:Nomadic people
Category:Turkic peoples
Category:Eurasian nomads
Category:History of Asia
Category:Ancient history
Category:History of Europe