A Brief History Of The Uyghur Ethnic Group.
When checking the latest information, it is said that the number of ethnic groups in the world today stands at around one hundred thousand. These groups are classified in accordance with their cultural heritage, history, homeland, and beliefs.
There is a further classification of these groups from the majority ethnic group that enjoys a huge following while there are also the minority groups. There have been discoveries of new ethnic groups that were unknown and it is estimated that there are more out there.
When comparing the minority ethnic groups today, Uyghur is one of these ethnic groups. Their origin can be traced back to Turkey even though they currently live in Central and East Asia. Their residence is in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. They are classified as among the 55 minority groups in China.
Even though the majority of the Uyghur people are in China, they can also be found in other countries. By 2010, it was estimated that Kazakhstan had over 200,000 Uyghur people. Other numbers can be found in the Uzbekistan at 55,000 and Kyrgyzstan with over 49,000. Though their origin is Turkey, their number here is only 45,000.
The other numbers that are found around the world is small. Due to the language that they spoke, there was a time they were known as Turks.
According to the late 19th Century encyclopedia, the Uyghurs were considered to be the most ancient of the Turkish tribes. Their origin dates back to the 2nd century. There was a time when their Uyghur name was lost but was later rediscovered. People use this name to address the entire group rather than a specific group.
Even though they are among the minority ethnic groups, they have the longest history than any other group. They are also known as one of the groups that have stayed true to their beliefs as their ancestors.
Their economic activities involve farming, black smith, and baking in this region. However, there are those who are known for their pastoralist activities.
The Uyghurs are known for speaking Uyghur and Chinese language. They are also Muslims who practice Sunni Islam. They are closely related to the Karluks, Tocharians, and the Turkic people.
The Uyghur people spread across the world when their kingdoms collapsed. They Moved to China and formed the Ganzhou kingdom. People believe that the current Uyghur people are descendants of this kingdom.
The Uyghur people have enjoyed years of freedom, progress, and have had a chance of practicing their beliefs without the interference of other people or groups.
