ABSTRACT
The gradual infiltration, of Turkish elements across the north-eastern frontier of the Iranian world probably has roots in the pre-Islamic age of this region, but there is a great dearth of information about this ethnic process. A well-documented exposition of the theory of a peaceful and gradual early Turkish penetration of the north-eastern Iranian world is in the article of R. N. Fryk and Aydln M. Sayill, Turks in the Middle East before the Saljuqs. In evaluating this historical information, it is wise to remember how loosely the term "Turk" was used, but broadly speaking, it may be accepted that these "Turks" included a proportion of Turks already resident within the basically Iranian regions of Transoxania and [ill]warazm. Most of the Turkish slaves brought into tlie Islamic world were trained as soldiers, although some were used for domestic duties. The Turkish Gaznavid Sultans rapidly adapted themselves to the Perso-Islamic culture of their Iranian territories.
