Due to the speed that they acquired with their forces, the Turkish war troops that were composed of archer cavalry men had always overcome the foreign armies that took up positions in tight rows and that preferred the slow movement and mass battles. (the "tempest speed" of the Turkish armies was stated within Chinese almanac of Ski-ki that was written in the years BC, and determined by the Latin author A. Marcellinus-in the 2nd half of the century IV-, the Byzantine historian Priskos and Armenian historian Urfalı Mateos).
As required by the conditions of the war and the battlefields, the Turkish troops would scatter around and then unite within a full freedom of their own initiatives in respect of the performance of the orders that they were instructed. This fluidity that seemed like a "disorganised and flurried" manner for those who were unfamiliar with the Steppe war techniques was the biggest advantage of the Turkish armies. The Steppe war technique that was based on this principle had two important characteristics: The fake retreat and ambush. In reference with the ancient name of the Turkish homelands, this war technique was called as "turan tactic". The Turks had applied this tactic in most of the great wars that they won (Even in the following eras: in the wars of Dandanakan in 1040, Manzikert in 1071, Nigbolu in 1396, and in Mohaç in 1526, etc.).
The steppe lands that trained the individuals within a military environment was one of the principal factors that enabled the accomplishment of these continuous victories for the Turkish people. At the same time, it was the place for permanent sportive activities that could be considered as a preparation for war at the same time. Riding horses and shooting arrows were the natural businesses of everybody in the region. Horse races, javelin, putting the shot, wrestling, falconry (hunting with falcons), etc. reinforced the determination for struggles.
Various ball games to which women had also joined (the types that resembled to football, golf and polo) were played among the Turks since the period of Hun people and they were diffused to China in the period of the Gok-Turk State. However, the most important sport of Turks was hunting. Particularly the drives that ended up with the killing of thousands of wild and harmful animals had the quality of a real war manoeuvre.
According to the Chinese records, 100 thousands of cavalrymen had participated in such a drive that was arranged under the management of the Hun ruler in the year of 62 BC. In another drive, a region of 700 provinces (approximately 350 kilometres) was surrounded. Skiing that was known in the Altay Mountains from of old was spread from this region to everywhere according to some of the researchers.
Therefore, the Turkish armies that maintained its strength and soundness due to these characteristics were the first Steppe institutions that were imitated by the foreigners. The famous Great Wall of China was built and reinforced by the emperor Şi-huang-ti against the Turkish raids (214 BC). However, when this wall did not meet the need, the reforms in the army were accelerated. First of all, an army composed of 163 thousands of people was formed after the long efforts for 20 years. Then, they trained 300 thousands of people in accordance with the Hun style.
Through the general that applied the Turan tactic in China for the first time, the Turkish weapons were used in the organisation of the cavalry troops. Similarly, the jackets, pants and the Hun caps and boots that constituted the clothes of a steppe Turkish cavalryman were also adopted by China. The drives were also observed there and these reforms and imitations continued even in the period of the Gok-Turk State.The people of Roman Empire had also tried to adopt their armies to the army of the Turks in the course of the 5th century. From that date on, the bow became the principal weapon of the Roman soldiers (the bow workshop of Roman people that was constructed in accordance with the Hun style in the region of Wales in England). Therefore, the jackets and pants were observed for the first time in Europe and then, these clothes became widespread.
The Roman people had also learnt to wear shirts from the Turks at the same time. The Turkish cavalrymen and the equipment had also some effects over the Byzantine. They were not contented with the imitation of these characteristics. Furthermore, there were some works upon this issue that were written by the rulers in person. The weapons, equipment and war techniques of the Gok-Turk, Avar, Bulgarian, Pecenek peoples and Turks (Hungarians) were introduced within the work of "Tactica" that was written by the Emperor Herakleios (died in 641) that made extensive reforms in his army in accordance with the Turkish procedures, in the work of "Strategikon" that was written by Mauriacus towards the year of 700 andf in the book of "Tactica" that was written by another Emperor Leon Phyiosophos (died in 912). In these works, it was also stated that some Reforms should be made in the Byzantine army.
The stirrup had also been observed in the Avar people for the first time in Europe.
Since the very early period of Kiev Princedom, the Russians had organised their military powers in the style of the Turks in respect of both training and equipment through the mediation of the Balkan Slavs and the Danube Bulgarians under the influence of the Khazar, Pecenek and Kuman people. In the course of the establishment of his state pursuant to the declaration of his "sovereignty" in the year of 1206, Jenghiz Khan had also organised his army in accordance with the Turkish procedures. In other words, he left the ancient Mongolian tradition that was composed of various numbers of the forces that changed in accordance with the type of the tribal unit and the services in respect of the rank hierarchy. Then, he formed his great and disciplined army on the basis of the decimal (10) system that was composed of his noyan and nöker people of his own tribe (Manghol= Mongolian) within the pecking order ranging from the corporals to the majors.
As it has been observed with the outlines: the characteristics of the Steppe state included the private property, free labour, lack of privileges; the indirect agreement expressed within the provisions of the laws although the sovereignty was based on charisma (legal legitimacy), military character, stockbreeding and imperial qualities. The most important issue of this state was the provision of the harmony between the developed inclination of freedom with the legislation that was obligatorily required for the protection of the integrity of the State. This was a very difficult task to accomplish.
The prevention of the conflicts between the personal rights and the social benefits through the law restrictions and the maintenance of the social order were the issues that necessitated high governmental capabilities. Besides the bravery and military capabilities of the state ruler, he should be a cautious, provident and a predictive ruler, in other words, he should be a "sovereign" as stated by an ancient idiom. As we have stated, these characteristics appeared in practice as the full and effective enforcement of the laws that were always arranged in accordance with the new conditions generally within the Turkish states and the maintenance of the social and cultural traditions that did not disturb the people within the empire and the abolition of the traditions that caused disquiet within the society. The Turkish State would dissolve in the regions where the laws were not effective. On the other hand, the foreign groups that were not interfered in respect of their own traditions would come into existence as social unions upon the collapse of the Il-khanates (empires).
The term of "sovereign" was covered with the word of "bilge" (scholar) that was one of the deep-rooted word of the ancient Turkish language. The Turkish rulers, statesmen and even hatun women that achieved success within the Turkish Il (State) would be entitled with the capacity as "scholar". This indicates that wisdom was the principal condition that was required in the Turkish governors.
With the experiences of a long lasting history, the Turks had attained this political training and good manners. Therefore, they could overcome the social and economical difficulties that they encountered in the foreign countries and they were able to establish the political organisations that satisfied the communities. The secret clue of the success should be looked within this concept of "wisdom" that was composed of the principle of protection of the social benefits in cooperation with the people and that pertained to the Turkish steppe political conceptions. On the other hand, this principle stated above indicates the wrong conviction that "The lands pertaining to the State among Turks were under the possession of the ruler's dynasty".
This style of conviction was the typical Mongolian conception of state. This conviction was attributed to the Turks by some researchers that could not distinguish the Turks from the Mongolians and therefore, this conviction became widespread. In respect of the concept of the country and the conception of legitimacy (kut= divine power) belonging to the Turkish state that we have tried to explain above, the members of the dynasty were appointed to have office in various regions. However, these appointments did not indicate the sharing of the country as a personal property. It should be considered as the joint liability that was undertaken in respect of the governmental tasks.