Göktürk Khaganate

State · 555–586 CE · at its largest around 561 CE

The Göktürks were the first steppe empire to call themselves Turks, and their name for their people lives on today. Masters of iron-working and horse warfare, they controlled Silk Road trade and dealt directly with Byzantium, Persia and China.

On its lands while it lasted

Uplistsikhe (2,001 BCE – 740 CE): Capital of Principality of Iberia (682–740).
Nokalakevi (1,001 BCE – 700 CE): Capital of Lazica (63 BCE–545), Kingdom of Lazica (638–700).
Sogdians (c. 500 BCE – c. 900 CE): Iranian people of the Zeravshan valley around Samarkand and Bukhara whose merchants dominated trade along the Silk Roads, especially between the 4th and 8th centuries.
Edessa (302 BCE – 1150 CE): Capital of Kingdom of Osroene (63 BCE–214), County of Edessa (1099–1150).
Silk Road (c. 130 BCE – c. 1450 CE): A network of overland caravan routes linking China with Central Asia, Persia and the Mediterranean, along which silk, spices, horses, religions, technologies and diseases travelled for more than 1,500 years.
Ye (c. 337–576 CE): Capital of Later Zhao (337–351), Northern Qi (555–576).
Suyab (c. 555–749 CE): Capital of Göktürk Khaganate (555–586), Türgesh (704–749).