WHO WERE THE KHAZARS?
The Khazars were a confederation of Turkish tribes who established a major commercial empire in the second half of the 6th century. As a trading nation, they were faced with a dilemma; tile Christians would not trade freely with Muslim nations, and the Muslim nations would not trade freely with the Christian nations. The Khazars did not want to be recognized as being more partial to one faith than the other. Therefore, around 740 C.E., King Bulan adopted Judaism, and thus, as a “neutral” people, the Khazars could trade more freely with both the Christian and Muslim nations that bordered Khazaria. Their Judaism – limited no doubt in any case to a comparitively small group (only the king, his attendants and the Khazars of his kind) – was always superficial and they were liable to relapse into paganism. They became what could best be called Judaized Turks. Religious toleration was maintained for the Kingdom’s 300 years, with clear traces of Christianity being found among them for the whol
