ABSTRACT
The Persian poet showed the Turks as he knew them from direct experience. Firdawsi was a native of the north-eastern extremities of Iran, the province of Khurasan, through which passed the ancient route of the nomads of Central Asia, those who pushed from the steppes of Turkestan, across Transoxania to the fertile territories of Iran and of western Asia. The Turks whom he encountered every day in his own country were already iranised to a certain degree. Interminable wars against the Turanians all began with the Turks crossing the river Jayhun and ended with their retreat behind the same river. The external appearance of the Turks also differed from that of the Iranians on account of costume, and in particular those two important elements: the belt and the headgear. History has shown that the Turks were excellent soldiers, both in terms of personal valour and in terms of military and strategic talents.
