The Kurds: History of a Forgotten Ethnic Minority

The origins of the Kurdish people are the subject of various speculations, one of the most prominent being that they are descendants of the ancient Carduchoi, a people mentioned in classical antiquity. Over the centuries, the Kurds have maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, despite the multiple empires that have ruled over their lands. Notably, the Kurdish dynasties that governed parts of the region from the 10th to the 12th century—such as the Hasanwayhids, Marwanids, Rawadids, and Shaddadids—serve as the earliest recorded examples of Kurdish political power under Islamic rule. Following these dynasties, the Ayyubid dynasty, founded by the legendary Saladin, further entrenched Kurdish influence in the region, especially in the wider Islamic world.