Abstract
This project analyzes the link between ancient Medes (singular: Mede) and Kurds. This is followed by the question of how you link the Medes to the Kurds. The Medes are people who lived in Upper Mesopotamia and present-day Iran, where they were known as Medians.
This research suggests that historians are always focused on the Median empire, which established its supremacy and forfeited it in 550 BC. Then, the name Medes gradually faded, and they last appeared in 70 AC [1]; therefore, the Medes do not appear again in history. The name Kurds had not appeared in pre-Median times in any single scripture. However, during the reign of the second Caliph, Umar son Khatab, Arabs started to conquer those lands beyond the Arabian Peninsula. Around 640-643 AD, the entire Mesopotamia was controlled by Arabs. Around 100 years later, scholars started to collect the Hadith, and Arabs started to write the history of Mesopotamia, and in their books, the Kurds appeared.
Keywords: Mede, Medes, Median, Pars, Parthia, Persian, Sassanid, Arab, Kurds, Islam,
Introduction:
Throughout history, there have been continual conflicts between nations and invasions from outside, as a result of which many tribes and nations were destroyed, and scriptures and holy books were burnt to ashes. Due to this tragic catastrophe, the history of the Kurds in this specific 70AD-640AD period has been lost. Here, there is a gap in history from Christ to the time when the Arabs conquered Mesopotamia.
Review of literature:
In the 19th and 20th centuries, historians and archaeologists focused on the Middle East, and some of them, based on their hypotheses, linked the Kurds to the Medes. For example, Minorsky wrote a book on Kurdish history, claiming that Kurds are descendants of the Medes. However, his method only considered the similarity of the language between Medians and Kurds, whereas he did not consider aspects of the cultures, folklore, religions, ancient scripts, or contemporary sources from when the name Kurd emerged, such as the books of Hadith and Islamic historians like al-Tabari and Masudi, etc.
In contrast to his view, some Arab historians have a different view. For example, according to the historian Masu’di (1989: V.2, 123), the Kurds are “Sons of Jinns—Genies” [2]. His argument is beyond acceptance and far from reality.
The project will focus on linking the Medians to the Kurds and finding out the reason for this lost history, as about 600 years are lost in Kurdish history. Nowadays, in many ways, it is very important to concentrate on Kurdish history. Today, the Kurdish people have a great role to play in the Middle East in general and particularly in Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran. Also, the Kurdish nation has drawn attention internationally by standing against ISIS and preventing atrocities and massacres. However, people lack knowledge about who the Kurds are, even the Kurds themselves. To prove that the Kurds descend from the ancient Medians would be of great significance for history.
Research Question/Sub-points:
How do you link the ancient Medians to the Kurds?
The Medians were nomads who settled in the Northern Serria. The Kurds were the descendants of the Medes. That was because they contributed genetically and linguistically to what the Kurds are today. However, the Kurds are not referred to as the descendants of the Medes because their ancestors were already in place before the Medes appeared. The historians said that the original population of the Median people was in northwest Iran and they were named Media. The tribes emerged during the 2nd millennium BC, and the Median tribes emerged in the region. The tribes expanded their control into larger areas over several years, but later, the boundaries changed as they were overthrown.
What is the commonality between Medians and Kurds?
The Medians and the Kurds have some things in common. They had a common language in which they communicated. The cultures, folklore, religions, ancient scripts, and contemporary sources from when the name Kurd emerged were the same as those of the Medians.
Why did the name Median disappear?
The name declined after the civil war of Assyria. But later, the kingdom fell after it was conquered in 550 BC by Cyrus the Great. To date, there is no archaeological evidence that shows that the Medians used to exist. Nowadays, there is considerable doubt about whether the Medians had a significant role.
Why did the name Kurds appear during the Islamic invasion?
That was because the commander of the Arabs conquered the Kurdish efforts. At this time, the Kurds could take care of cattle and sheep. They lived a sedentary type of life. Because of the invasion, the Arabs tried to convert the Kurds to the Muslim religion.
What methodology is used differently from that of other historians?
It’s different because I used the interview method, which other historians have not used. I also interviewed the old people who existed during the period of the Medians and the Kurds. Also, I used the books in the library for research. I surveyed and visited ancient historical places and villages in the mountains, which still keep the old customs and have a commonality with the ancient Median.
Why is the research important?
The research has been helpful in that I have known the origin of the Medians and Kurds. It has been helpful to know the common things that the Medians and Kurds had in common. The fights they faced made the Kurds rise and fall again, but again, they conquered their sovereignty. This research identifies the relationship between the Kurds and the Medians.
Methodology
The study will revisit contemporary Greek, Latin, Persian, Syriac, Chins, and Arab sources to find out the last place where the name of the Median disappeared and the name Kurds appeared.
The study will compare the cultures, customs, religions, languages, and idioms of the ancient Medians and Kurds. The study will survey and visit ancient historical places and villages in the mountains, which still keep the old customs and have a commonality with the ancient Median. For example, the customs of the people in Horaman are mixed with those of the ancient Median and modern Kurds. They also have old chants, which are believed to have been inherited from ancient times and passed on to future generations. If you are proposing a qualitative study, use the following subheadings to present your data collection plan and erase the subheadings for the quantitative study. A sampling approach was also used in the current investigation; a random sampling method has been used. The approach is very useful in the present research because of the equal opportunity for each sample to be selected, which leads to a reduction in the chances of error and personal bias.
Procedures for Recording Data
Data collection is the key value of research. You have to collect what you want from your investigation. The collection of data involves the use of interviews and questionnaires so as to get good results. Research allows a researcher to use various methods to record their data. In the current study, an inductive approach has been applied, which will help in the investigation from the specific to the general. The main focus of the study is to understand the important attributes of a project manager in successfully getting information about the link between the Kurds and the Medians. It is the development of a new theory, and as a result, an inductive approach has been used. So, it is the best approach for achieving the objective of the study.
Ethical and Cultural Considerations
Research ethics focuses on the application of ethical norms and principles in research. The research concept becomes very important when human participants are involved in the research since ethical issues are a focus in this study as people are included as respondents. There are three main objectives in ethics. Firstly, ethics is meant to protect the human participants. Secondly, the research should be conducted in such a manner that protects the interests of people and the entire society. The last objective is concerned with the promotion of confidentiality, management of risk, and obtaining consent from the participants. Researchers should follow the guidelines and ethical norms during their research. They should take care of the safety and security of the respondents.
In the present research, the author has taken all the appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of the data. Some of the information has been collected from secondary sources, which have been referenced. Plagiarism and manipulation of data have been taken care of in the entire report. Moreover, the present study has followed all the necessary rules and guidelines related to ethics in research.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this research shows that the Kurds and the Medians have a common link. The Medes are people who lived in Upper Mesopotamia and present-day Iran, where they were known as Medians. The historians thought that the Kurds were descendants of the Medians, which was the opposite of the contrary. They based their argument on this because they thought they spoke the same language. The Kurds have, therefore, played a significant role in today’s history. They are at the forefront of fighting ISIS. This was because the Medians lost to the Kurds, and so they ruled. This research has many challenges, but it at least gave me a hint about how the Kurds and the Medians came to exist. First, collecting and sampling the data was hectic. However, for my next research, I have decided to take advantage of technology and embrace it.
References:
https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2010/12/state4440.htm
Al-Masudi, Abu Al-Hassan Ali bin Al-Hussein. The meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems. Beirut, Dar Al-Qalam, 1989
Galip, Ozlem Belcim. Imagining Kurdistan: Identity, Culture and Society. Vol. 3. IB Tauris, 2015.
https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsMiddEast/EasternMedia.htm ↑
SaeedKakeyi. See the article: https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2010/12/state4440.htm ↑
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