Despite the wars between the Turks and Muslims,
there were some trivial commercial activities between these two groups. The standstill of
the wars accelerated the development of the commercial relations. Particularly the
industrial goods were taking the attraction of the Turks. This incident is also evidenced
by the list of the import and export goods provided within the resources. Muslims used to
sell metallic goods, cereals, etc. In return to these goods, they used to purchase animal
products, furs, leathers, metals, horses, slaves, etc. The Transoxania was in the first
place in these commercial relations. However, the trade of Harezm with especially Khazar
people and the Volga Bulgarians was of great significance. The merchants from Harezm would
go to the north along the banks of the river and they would return with the raw materials
that they had bought pursuant to selling their goods. Harezm people had started to attain
the military and administrative staffs of Khazar State and the State of Volga Bulgarians
in the beginning of the century X. Moreover, the paid Harezm soldiers laid the foundation
for the Khazar Army. However, the religious leaders and particularly the dervishes and
Muslim mystics who went to the Turkish countries with caravans or alone had had great
effect in the introduction and the diffusion of the religion of Islam among Turks.
|