This chapter reviews Turkmen culture in Central Asia. It states that the main reason why the Turkmen were nomadic was so that they could raid the sedentary populations and retreat into more arid regions. It also outlines some of the social obligations of sons to fathers and wives to husbands.
Comments: 2/1/10
Here are a few interesting quotations:
- In addition to ancestry, in order to be Turkmen: "One must be a native speaker of the Turkmen language and a Sunni Muslim of the Hanafi school." (p. 428)
- "Most Turkmen say the prayers which are required of Muslims five times a day. They also observe Ramadan, the month of fasting during which all food, drink, and sex are forbidden from sunrise to sunset. Men who can afford the expense make the pilgrimage to Mecca and afterwards are much respected as hajji. The women of wealthy families often accompany a male relative to Mecca and also become hajji. Religious teachers are highly honored and influential members of each Turkmen society." (p. 432)
