During the earlier medieval period, a succession of mainly Turkic states ruled in the area of present-day Kazakhstan.
No. | State | Establishment and fall | Capital | Territory | People | Language | |
1 | First Turkic Khaganate | 552-603 | Suyab | Altay, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Caucasia, Mongolia, Northern China | Göktürks, Teleuts, Kipchaks, Khazars, Yenisei Kirghiz, Sogdian. | Old Turkic | |
2 | Western Turkic Khaganate | 603-704 | Suyab | Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Caucasia, Eastern Turkestan, Crimea, coast of Volga | Göktürks, Kipchaks, Khazars, Wusun, Kangju, Turgesh. | Old Turkic | |
3 | Turgesh Khaganate | 704-756 | Suyab | Zhetysu Region | Göktürks | Old Turkic | |
4 | Karluk Khaganate | 756-940 | Suyab, Balasagun | Zhetysu Region, Southern Kazakhstan | Karluks | Karluk | |
5 | Pechenegs | 659-750 | Saryarka | Pechenegs | Old Turkic | ||
6 | Khazar Khaganate | 650-969 | Samandar, Atil | Western Kazakhstan, coast of Volga, Northern Caucasia, Crimea | Khazars, Bulgars, Alans, Hungarians, Burtas, Eastern Slavs | Khazarian | |
7 | Kimaks | 750-1035 | Imekia, Karantia or Khagan-Kimek | Saryarka | Kimaks, Kipchaks | Turkic | |
8 | Oghuz Yabgu State | 756-1055 | Yangikent | Western Kazakhstan, coast of Aral Sea | Oghuz | Turkic | |
9 | Karluks | 960-1224 | Koyluk | Zhetysu Region | Karluks | Karluk | |
10 | Karakhanid Khanate | 942-1212 | Balasagun | Zhetysu Region, Eastern Turkestan, Transoxiana | Karakhanids, Karluks | Karluk | |
11 | Kara-Khitan Khanate | 1128-1213 | Balasagun | Zhetysu Region, Eastern Turkestan, Transoxiana | Karluks, Khitans | Karluk | |
12 | Khwarazmian dynasty | 1097-1231 | Konye-Urgench | Southern Kazakhstan, Transoxiana, Khorasan, Iran | Cumans, Persians, Turkmens | Karluk | |
13 | Naiman Khanate | 1210-1218 | Balasagun | Zhetysu Region | Naimans | Karluk |