Khitan people

The Khitan were a nomadic people from northeastern China who established the Liao Dynasty (907–1125 CE). Known for their horse-based culture and skilled craftsmanship, they played a significant role in regional politics, often ruling over parts of northern China and surrounding areas. They developed their own writing system and adopted Buddhism, leaving a lasting cultural legacy. The Khitan ultimately declined due to internal strife and external pressures from neighboring states, but their influence remains important in Chinese and Central Asian history.