Seljuk Dynasty: Map & History
The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that culturally became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture.
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The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that culturally became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture.
Modern Countries Once Part of Seljuk Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Seljuk Dynasty covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Turkmenistan1034–1039 CE · most
- Uzbekistan1034–1039 CE · a small part
- Iran1034–1039 CE · a small part
- Kazakhstan990–1039 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Seljuk Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Seljuk Dynasty in Depth
Early history
The Seljuks originated from the Kinik branch of the Oghuz Turks, who in the 8th century lived on the periphery of the Muslim world; north of the Caspian Sea and Aral Sea in their Oghuz Yabgu State in the Kazakh Steppe of Turkestan. During the 10th century, Oghuz had come into close contact with Muslim cities. When Seljuk, the leader of the Seljuk clan, had a falling out with Yabghu, the supreme chieftain of the Oghuz, he split his clan from the bulk of the Oghuz Turks and set up camp on the west bank of the lower Syr Darya. Around 985, Seljuk and his clan converted to Islam.
In the 11th century, the Seljuks migrated from their ancestral homelands into mainland Persia, in the province of Khurasan, where they encountered the Ghaznavids.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Seljuk dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Seljuk Dynasty: Key Facts
| Founded | 10th century |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1308 |
Succeeded by
- Ottoman dynasty
Facts from Wikidata Q3708255 (CC0).
Seljuk Dynasty Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Seljuk Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.
Seljuk Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 822,986 km² in 1036 CE.
Seljuk Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Seljuk Dynasty exist?
The Seljuk Dynasty is dated to 990 CE – 1039 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
How large was the Seljuk Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 1036 AD the Seljuk Dynasty covered about 822,986 km².
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