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Steppe nomads.
Whose exact appereance and suchlike actually varied a fair bit from one end of the steppe belt to another - and once they got going, there were soon Turks from Syria and Anatolia to the gates of China, so not too much more specific to add. Doubly so as the early proto-Turks are sort of poorly documented (eg. I've seen the Huns tagged as both proto-Mongols and proto-Turks...).
Whose exact appereance and suchlike actually varied a fair bit from one end of the steppe belt to another - and once they got going, there were soon Turks from Syria and Anatolia to the gates of China, so not too much more specific to add. Doubly so as the early proto-Turks are sort of poorly documented (eg. I've seen the Huns tagged as both proto-Mongols and proto-Turks...).
Originally Posted by Watchman:
Steppe nomads.
Whose exact appereance and suchlike actually varied a fair bit from one end of the steppe belt to another - and once they got going, there were soon Turks from Syria and Anatolia to the gates of China, so not too much more specific to add. Doubly so as the early proto-Turks are sort of poorly documented (eg. I've seen the Huns tagged as both proto-Mongols and proto-Turks...).
I am writing a novel not a history book. I need emotions. Do you fear'em Like them, Hate them, Respect? whatever... I am trying to put myself in the boots of a person who is not of Turkic descendant.Steppe nomads.
Whose exact appereance and suchlike actually varied a fair bit from one end of the steppe belt to another - and once they got going, there were soon Turks from Syria and Anatolia to the gates of China, so not too much more specific to add. Doubly so as the early proto-Turks are sort of poorly documented (eg. I've seen the Huns tagged as both proto-Mongols and proto-Turks...).
You asked to tell the truth. When I hear Turk now I'm thinking about Kebab ;)
Because my favourite kebab bar is being managed by Turk.
But lets take a historical look.
Turk - about 200, 300, 4000 AD I have never heard that there were any Turks around. Maybe Huns, if we count them as Turks.
Turks were ok IMO. Before 1620 century Poland and Turkey respected themselves and did not fought a war (I'm not counting wars on Hunguary, because there there were not too many Poles). I think Turks were very similar to Poles that time. Different country, different culture but similar spirit. Turkish horses and part of weapons were being loved here - hussaria horses had turkish ancestors and part of sabres from Syria (called damascenki) were very popular in Poland.
Into XVI century -due to hard wars - Turks became enemies, but not enemies that you hate. Just guys on the others side, who are enemy and must be killed IMO. I think both nations simply had nothing to each other.
In the XVIII century Turks became liked again.
And in the end of XVIII century, when Turkey did not accept Partition of Poland, Turks became really liked. Now its underlined into historical books.
To sum up. Turks are ok and were ok but they had some disadvantages.
They behaved with prisoners very bad. This is damaging good opinion about them but with all enemies Poland faced into XVI century - Turks were most interesting.
Because my favourite kebab bar is being managed by Turk.
But lets take a historical look.
Turk - about 200, 300, 4000 AD I have never heard that there were any Turks around. Maybe Huns, if we count them as Turks.
Turks were ok IMO. Before 1620 century Poland and Turkey respected themselves and did not fought a war (I'm not counting wars on Hunguary, because there there were not too many Poles). I think Turks were very similar to Poles that time. Different country, different culture but similar spirit. Turkish horses and part of weapons were being loved here - hussaria horses had turkish ancestors and part of sabres from Syria (called damascenki) were very popular in Poland.
Into XVI century -due to hard wars - Turks became enemies, but not enemies that you hate. Just guys on the others side, who are enemy and must be killed IMO. I think both nations simply had nothing to each other.
In the XVIII century Turks became liked again.
And in the end of XVIII century, when Turkey did not accept Partition of Poland, Turks became really liked. Now its underlined into historical books.
To sum up. Turks are ok and were ok but they had some disadvantages.
They behaved with prisoners very bad. This is damaging good opinion about them but with all enemies Poland faced into XVI century - Turks were most interesting.
Why should *I* hate or fear them ? 
Contemporaries might be another issue, but AFAIK around 3rd century AD the Turks were yet small enough fry they didn't particularly terrify their immediate neighbours (other steppe confederations - at least one of them considerably stronger than the proto-Turks - and the Chinese, who had already gotten quite practiced in the art of fending off pesky horse barbarians)...
Might be a matter of taste, but personally I tend to insist novels that claim a historical setting also stick to that history. But YMMV.
Contemporaries might be another issue, but AFAIK around 3rd century AD the Turks were yet small enough fry they didn't particularly terrify their immediate neighbours (other steppe confederations - at least one of them considerably stronger than the proto-Turks - and the Chinese, who had already gotten quite practiced in the art of fending off pesky horse barbarians)...Might be a matter of taste, but personally I tend to insist novels that claim a historical setting also stick to that history. But YMMV.
Watchman, I think you misunderstood the point. A historical novel might as well about a guy on the walls of Constantinople in 1453, who never really existed. Historical novels must have a historical setting but not neccessarily historical accuracy. Like in paintings or statues. There are numerous painting depicting historical persons or events that aren't completely accurate... It's still art. Why should literature be any different...
Back to the original question.
I don't have any particular opinion or emotion about the turks, but I can say how I see steppe people (I was this close to write factions instead of people, what TW modding can do to your brain
) in general...
Fierce, proud, independant, ruthless but fair, honourable, simple (not in a bad way). Also, not very fond of culture and arts, more concerned with the practical aspects of life...
I would probably find them intimidating, but this come from a 21st century guy imagining a member of the Hunnic horde in front of him ...
I remember a book I read when I was younger, about 15 years old, Lathatatlan Ember, about a greek boy who was a servant of some powerful roman and he ended up going with him when he was chosen to be a part of the delegation to the Huns from the Eastern Empire... I forgot the name of the author, I think he was Hungarian. The boy fell in love with the Hunnic way of life and stayed there till Attilas death. He favoured the simplicity and honesty of the Hunns, compared to hypocrycies and intrigues of the roman life.
Back to the original question.
I don't have any particular opinion or emotion about the turks, but I can say how I see steppe people (I was this close to write factions instead of people, what TW modding can do to your brain
) in general... Fierce, proud, independant, ruthless but fair, honourable, simple (not in a bad way). Also, not very fond of culture and arts, more concerned with the practical aspects of life...
I would probably find them intimidating, but this come from a 21st century guy imagining a member of the Hunnic horde in front of him
... I remember a book I read when I was younger, about 15 years old, Lathatatlan Ember, about a greek boy who was a servant of some powerful roman and he ended up going with him when he was chosen to be a part of the delegation to the Huns from the Eastern Empire... I forgot the name of the author, I think he was Hungarian. The boy fell in love with the Hunnic way of life and stayed there till Attilas death. He favoured the simplicity and honesty of the Hunns, compared to hypocrycies and intrigues of the roman life.
Originally Posted by Sarmatian:
I remember a book I read when I was younger, about 15 years old, Lathatatlan Ember, about a greek boy who was a servant of some powerful roman and he ended up going with him when he was chosen to be a part of the delegation to the Huns from the Eastern Empire... I forgot the name of the author, I think he was Hungarian. The boy fell in love with the Hunnic way of life and stayed there till Attilas death. He favoured the simplicity and honesty of the Hunns, compared to hypocrycies and intrigues of the roman life.
I shoul take a look at that book if I can find a copy. Thank you my friend.I remember a book I read when I was younger, about 15 years old, Lathatatlan Ember, about a greek boy who was a servant of some powerful roman and he ended up going with him when he was chosen to be a part of the delegation to the Huns from the Eastern Empire... I forgot the name of the author, I think he was Hungarian. The boy fell in love with the Hunnic way of life and stayed there till Attilas death. He favoured the simplicity and honesty of the Hunns, compared to hypocrycies and intrigues of the roman life.
I think you ought to read Black Angel and Mikael novels written by Mika Waltari. They are describing Ottoman Empire into quite interesting way.
Can't say that I know much about Turks. What I think of when I hear the word Turk is basically this:
Seljuks, Nomads
War against the Byzantines
The Ottoman Empire
Siege(s) of Vienna
Wars against Russia
Of course, as a Swede I've read of Karl XII's stay in the Ottoman Empire and the events in Bender, but that's pretty much it.
Seljuks, Nomads
War against the Byzantines
The Ottoman Empire
Siege(s) of Vienna
Wars against Russia
Of course, as a Swede I've read of Karl XII's stay in the Ottoman Empire and the events in Bender, but that's pretty much it.
Originally Posted by KrooK:
I think you ought to read Black Angel and Mikael novels written by Mika Waltari. They are describing Ottoman Empire into quite interesting way.
Well, I will surely at least take a look at those books so thanx very much. In an interesting way Turkic people (nomads) and Turks (after they converted to Islam in general) played a consistent role as being "the other" for their neighbours when it came to describing and forming their identities. So even though my book will actually be about nomadic Turkic people (proto or pro) the view of the West about the Ottomans might help. Anyway thanx dude. Ihope I can find them.I think you ought to read Black Angel and Mikael novels written by Mika Waltari. They are describing Ottoman Empire into quite interesting way.
Originally Posted by Mete Han:
I shoul take a look at that book if I can find a copy. Thank you my friend.
I checked on the author - it's Geza Gardonyi. I shoul take a look at that book if I can find a copy. Thank you my friend.
Unfortunately, I don't believe there is an English or Turkish translation. So unless you can read Hungarian or Serbian, you won't have much use of it...
That's too bad, because the novel deals exactly with what you want to know. How a "civilized" boy finds and try to adapts to a "barbarian" way of life...
Originally Posted by Sarmatian:
I checked on the author - it's Geza Gardonyi.
Unfortunately, I don't believe there is an English or Turkish translation. So unless you can read Hungarian or Serbian, you won't have much use of it...
That's too bad, because the novel deals exactly with what you want to know. How a "civilized" boy finds and try to adapts to a "barbarian" way of life...
but thanx anyway... I try finding a copy in English.I checked on the author - it's Geza Gardonyi.
Unfortunately, I don't believe there is an English or Turkish translation. So unless you can read Hungarian or Serbian, you won't have much use of it...
That's too bad, because the novel deals exactly with what you want to know. How a "civilized" boy finds and try to adapts to a "barbarian" way of life...
Originally Posted by Sarmatian:
I checked on the author - it's Geza Gardonyi.
Unfortunately, I don't believe there is an English or Turkish translation. So unless you can read Hungarian or Serbian, you won't have much use of it...
That's too bad, because the novel deals exactly with what you want to know. How a "civilized" boy finds and try to adapts to a "barbarian" way of life...
I just found it!!!!! We have the book in Turkish. I checked on the author - it's Geza Gardonyi.
Unfortunately, I don't believe there is an English or Turkish translation. So unless you can read Hungarian or Serbian, you won't have much use of it...
That's too bad, because the novel deals exactly with what you want to know. How a "civilized" boy finds and try to adapts to a "barbarian" way of life...
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