The Gokturk Khaganate was an ancient empire that existed in Central Asia from the 6th to the 8th centuries. It was founded by the Gokturks, a nomadic Turkic people, and became one of the first Turkic states. The khaganate played a crucial role in connecting the East and West through trade routes, including the famous Silk Road. The empire was divided into two main parts: the Eastern and Western Gokturk Khaganates. Each was ruled by a khagan, or emperor, who maintained control over various tribes. The Gokturks are significant for their contributions to Turkic culture and their influence on later empires, such as the Uighur Khaganate.