The Seljuqs originated from the Qynyk branch of the Oghuz Turks,[2][3][4][5][6] who in the 9th century lived on the periphery of the Muslim world, north of the Caspian Sea and Aral Sea in their Yabghu Khaganate of the Oghuz confederacy,[7] in the Kazakh Steppe of Turkestan.[8] During the 10th century, due to various events, the Oghuz had come into close contact with Muslim cities.[8]