The Celestial Turks 2: Expansion of the Göktürk Empire

In the second episode of the eponymous documentary series, we are going to explore the immediate aftermath of the foundation of the Göktürk Khaganate and take a look at the succession of rule after Bumin's death. Then, we will analyze how Bumin's brother Istemi and Bumin's sons Kara and Mukhan managed to expand the Turkic realm, doubling the Ashina Dynasty's territory within just a decade. As the Turks destroyed the Hephthalite Empire in the process, they also established cordial relations with the merchant-people of Sogdia who – in the name of the Turks – established diplomatic relations with the Byzantine Roman Empire in Europe. But this also brought the Turkic Khaganate into conflict with the mighty Sassanian dynasty in Persia.
As Istemi tried navigating through this complex tapestry of diplomacy and economic espionage and sabotage, his nephew Mukhan invaded Chinese lands for the first time. The 550s and 560s spawned the golden era of Turkic history, but has for far too long been ignored or pushed aside in mainstream media and even academia.

The time has come to put an end to this and explain to you, finally, how and why the Göktürk Empire expanded into virtually all directions and how the Turks massively influenced the fate of the Eurasian Silk Road in the long run.
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