The Kurds: History of a Forgotten Ethnic Minority

Summary

The Kurds are a distinct ethnic group native to the Middle East, primarily inhabiting the region known as Kurdistan, which stretches across parts of modern-day Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. They are an Iranian ethnic group with a history that spans thousands of years. The geographical area traditionally inhabited by the Kurds is marked by hilly terrain, particularly south of Lake Van and Lake Urmia. The majority of Kurds speak dialects of the Kurdish language, with Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) and Sorani being the most widely spoken.

The origins of the Kurdish people are the subject of various speculations, one of the most prominent being that they are descendants of the ancient Carduchoi, a people mentioned in classical antiquity. Over the centuries, the Kurds have maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, despite the multiple empires that have ruled over their lands. Notably, the Kurdish dynasties that governed parts of the region from the 10th to the 12th century—such as the Hasanwayhids, Marwanids, Rawadids, and Shaddadids—serve as the earliest recorded examples of Kurdish political power under Islamic rule. Following these dynasties, the Ayyubid dynasty, founded by the legendary Saladin, further entrenched Kurdish influence in the region, especially in the wider Islamic world.