The Khazars () were a nomadic Turkic people that, in the late 6th century CE, established a major commercial empire covering the southeastern section of modern European Russia, southern Ukraine, Crimea, and Kazakhstan. They created what, for its duration, was the most powerful polity to emerge from the break-up of the Western Turkic Khaganate. Astride a major artery of commerce between Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia, Khazaria became one of the foremost trading empires of the early medieval world, commanding the western marches of the Silk Road and playing a key commercial role as a crossroad between China, the Middle East, and Kievan Rus'. For some three centuries (–965), the Khazars dominated the vast area extending from the Volga-Don steppes to the eastern Crimea and the northern Caucasus.
the khazars () were a nomadic turkic people that in the late 6th century ce established a major commercial empire covering the southeastern section of modern european russia southern ukraine crimea and kazakhstan they created what for its duration was the most powerful polity to emerge from the break-up of the western turkic khaganate astride a major artery of commerce between eastern europe and southwestern asia khazaria became one of the foremost trading empires of the early medieval world commanding the western marches of the silk road and playing a key commercial role as a crossroad between china the middle east and kievan rus' for some three centuries (–965) the khazars dominated the vast area extending from the volga-don steppes to the eastern crimea and the northern caucasus