The Khazars were a semi-nomadic Turkic people who established a powerful empire in the 7th to 10th centuries, located in what is now southern Russia and parts of Eastern Europe. They played a significant role in trade between the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic Caliphates, and the Vikings, contributing to cultural exchanges and economic growth in the region. The Khazar Empire is notable for its unique religious tolerance, as it became a center for Jewish culture and scholarship after the ruling elite converted to Judaism. This conversion set the Khazars apart from their neighboring states, which were predominantly Christian or Muslim.