The Jews of Khazaria Book

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 -- THE ORIGINS OF THE KHAZARS

The Turkic Heritage

Legends about the Beginnings of the Jewish Khazars

The Khazars and the Huns

The Western Turkish Empire

The Formation of an Independent Khazar Kingdom

The Effects of Khazar Expansion on the Bulgars

Chapter 2 -- THE CITIES AND TOWNS OF THE KHAZARS

The Capital Cities of Khazaria

Atil and Khazaran

Balanjar

Chernigov

Cherson

Chufut-Kale

Doros

Feodosia

Kara Tobe

Kerch

Kiev

Samandar

Sarkel

Sudak

Tmutorokan (Samkarsh)

Verkhneye Saltovo and Other Saltovo Settlements

Yevpatoria (Gusli-ev)

Other Khazar Settlements

The Peoples of the Khazar Empire

Chapter 3 -- THE STRUCTURE OF THE KHAZAR GOVERNMENT

The Kagan

The Bek (King) and His Army

The Kender and the Javishgar

The Tarkhan

The Court Panel

The Local Governors

Taxation

Tributary Peoples

The "Kagans" of Kievan Rus

Chapter 4 -- THE KHAZAR WAY OF LIFE

Languages Spoken by the Khazars

Khazar Arts and Crafts

Khazar Agriculture and Food-Gathering

The Structure of Khazar Homes

Khazar Costume and Hairstyle

Khazar Graves

Chapter 5 -- KHAZARIAN TRADE

Khazaria as a Great Medieval Trading Center

The Jewish Radhanites

Rus Traders in Khazaria

Arab Traders in Khazaria

Chinese Traders in Khazaria

Coinage

Chapter 6 -- THE KHAZARS' CONVERSION TO JUDAISM

Preludes to Conversion

Khazaria as a Refuge for Persecuted Jews

Khazar Shamanism

Saint Cyril's Khazarian Mission

King Bulan's Conversion

The Schechter Letter

The Khazar Correspondence

The Kievan Letter

The Degree of Judaization Among the Khazars

Archaeological Evidence

Conclusions

Chapter 7 -- RELATIONS BETWEEN THE KHAZARS AND OTHER PEOPLES

The Arab-Khazar Wars and Relations with Leaders of the South Caucasus

Relations with the Byzantine Empire

Relations with the Alans

Relations with Other Turkic Tribes

Relations with the Hungarians

Relations with the Rus

Chapter 8 -- THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE KHAZAR EMPIRE

The Beginning of the End

The Rus'ian Conquest of the Khazars

The Passing of the Khazar Empire

Reasons for Khazaria's Destruction

Chapter 9 -- THE DIASPORA OF THE KHAZARS

Khazars in Hungary

Khazars in Romania

Khazars in Lithuania and Belarus

Khazars in Poland

Khazars in Ukraine

Khazars in Turkey

Khazars in Spain

Khazars in Azerbaijan

Khazars in the North Caucasus

Khazars in Russia

Khazars in Kazakhstan

Khazars in Other Parts of the World

Chapter 10 -- THE PHENOMENON OF PROSELYTISM

Judaism among the Avars

Judaism among the Cumans

Judaism among the Alans

European Converts to Judaism

The Sabbatarians

The Subbotniki

Wexler's Theory of Proselytism among the West Slavs

Converts in Adiabene

Converts among Semitic Tribes of Greater Israel

Converts in Yemen

Converts in Ethiopia

Converts in North Africa

Chapter 11 -- EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN JEWS AFTER THE TENTH CENTURY

The Origins of the Ashkenazim

Jews in Medieval Ukraine

The Early Jews of Poland

Jews in Lithuania and Belarus

Jews in Hungary

Jews in Historic Romania

The Krymchaks

The Crimean and Lithuanian Karaites

Conclusions

Summary

Appendix: A Timeline of Khazar History

Glossary

Bibliography

Index