What was the religion of the ancient Turkic people?

The ancient Turkic people practiced various forms of shamanism, animism, and later, Tengrism. These belief systems were polytheistic and focused on the worship of nature, spirits, and ancestors. Shamanism and animism were the earliest forms of religion among the ancient Turkic people and were based on the idea that everything in the natural world, including rocks, trees, and animals, had a spirit or soul. The shaman served as the intermediary between the spirit world and the living and performed various rituals, including healing, divination, and communicating with the spirits.

Tengrism, also known as sky worship, emerged as a more organized religion in the early centuries CE. It was based on the belief in a supreme god, Tengri, who was associated with the sky and the sun. Tengri was seen as the creator of the universe and the source of all life. Tengrism also included elements of shamanism, animism, and ancestor worship. The religion was practiced throughout Central Asia, including among the Turkic peoples.

Islam was introduced to the Turkic peoples in the 8th century CE and gradually spread throughout the region, becoming the dominant religion by the 10th century CE. Today, the majority of Turkic people are Muslim, although some continue to practice traditional beliefs such as Tengrism.

In conclusion, the ancient Turkic people practiced various forms of shamanism, animism, and later, Tengrism, which focused on the worship of nature, spirits, and ancestors. Tengrism, which emerged as a more organized religion in the early centuries CE, was based on the belief in a supreme god, Tengri, and included elements of shamanism, animism, and ancestor worship.