What Is the Origin of the Kurds?
Throughout history, the peoples who lived on and around the Zagros mountain range and in the southeastern Taurus mountains formed the Kurdish nation. The ancient peoples who formed the Kurdish nation include: native Mirzan (Göbekli Tepe) culture inhabitants, native Halaf culture inhabitants, native Hurri culture inhabitants, and Aryan culture peoples who came from Europe. Kurdish ancestors — such as Kurti, Gordiane, Kassite, Adiabene, Khaldi/Urartu, Karduki, Mard, and Bagiran — represent Hurri branches. Additionally, peoples such as Zila, Med, Parth, Sagartian, and Mitanni constitute the Aryan branches among Kurdish ancestors.
Where Is Kurdistan, What Geographies Does It Cover?
The Zagros mountain range extends from the Euphrates River and Pontus mountains to Luristan and Baluchistan. The southeastern Taurus mountains extend from Maraş to the Tigris River. These mountain ranges and the surrounding regions have been home to the peoples who formed the Kurdish nation throughout history. Therefore, historical Kurdistan encompasses these lands.
Geographic Boundaries of Kurdistan
Kurdistan extends from Luristan along the Mediterranean, Koçgiri, Dersim, and the Pontus mountains back to Luristan.
Recommended Source
Prof. Dr. Mehrdad R. Izady specializes in Kurdish national origins and formation. An ethnographer, geographer, and historian, Izady is the author of "The Kurds: A Concise Handbook."