Firudin Jalilov Delivered a Master Class to Young Scholars

Renowned Turkologist scholar, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Firudin Jalilov delivered a master class on the topic “Ancient Turkic History – The Urmu Theory” to members of the Turan Young Scholars Academy and students of Hedef Lyceum (Nasimi branch).

First, the heads of the History and Culture section of the Turan Young Scholars Academy, Araz Velizade and Abbas Abdulzade, presented a slide presentation about Firudin Jalilov’s life and academic activities.

Speaking about his Urmu Theory, Firudin Jalilov stated that, according to this theory, the Urmia Lake basin (South Azerbaijan) is one of the oldest, and possibly the primary, centers of Turkic ethnic, cultural, and linguistic formation. The Urmu culture is considered one of the oldest cultures formed in the territory of Azerbaijan in the Near East. For millennia, these regions were among the main settlements of Turkic tribes (the Manna tribal confederations, Saka/Scythians, Oghuz, and Kipchaks). The Urmu culture is one of the oldest indigenous cultural and archaeological complexes involved in the formation of the Turkic ethnos and served as a cultural bridge between the South Caucasus, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia.

According to the Urmu Theory, the idea that “Turks originated only from the Altai and Central Asia” is insufficient. The formation of the Turkic ethnos was multi-centered, and one of the earliest centers may have been the Urmu region. The theory does not deny the Altai origin concept but emphasizes that Altai was one of the later political centers of the Turkic world, not the sole or original homeland.

During the master class, students’ questions about ancient craftsmanship, trade, toponyms, and ethnonyms around Lake Urmia were answered. Explanations and references were provided, and presentations were delivered on the history of the Azerbaijani language and alphabet, as well as the preservation of linguistic purity.

It should be noted that the Turan Young Scholars Academy was established at Hedef Lyceum on December 5, 2025, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress. The Academy currently operates in six sections, and scientific research activities and master classes with prominent scholars and specialists are organized regularly for its members.

Hedef Media