greedy, mortal struggles of those below. Thus, it acquired qualities of grandeur, comprehensiveness and depth.

The fourth age of the Türkmen spirit is between the 17th and 20th centuries. This period was the weakest in terms of cleverness and skill. Action was replaced by idleness and waste, resoluteness was replaced by spending time doing nothing. The Türkmen started praising the achievements of the past and regretting his deficiencies. The historical creativity of the nation’s spirit ceased to exist. Having discarded the historical burden, the Türkmen made efforts to maintain his national characteristics. Innumerable and complex historical events divided the nation into various groups and tribes. The sincere leaders of these divided groups made painstaking efforts to give unity to the nation’s spirit. The Türkmens needed occasion and a peaceful life to pass their historical experience through the sieve of the mind, and to set future goals. So the Türkmen remained aloof from the foreign world and became engaged with himself. Magtymguly Pyragy is the spiritual leader of this period.

When the Türkmen changes his traditions and his way, he is defeated. For example, the city of Merw, which is also known as ‘the Capital of the World’, was a major city for the Türkmens of 4 thousand years ago. During the reign of Soltan Sanjar it had a population of more than 2 million. Jingiz Han devastated this beautiful city in the 13th century, but the Türkmen people re-established Merw again. Then, in the 16th century Tamerlame sacked Merw. And the Türkmens restored Merw again. In 1787 the city was severely damaged by the Han of Bukhara and was re-constructed by the Türkmens. Is there any other city in the world that has been ruined so many times? The sublime spirit of the Türkmens protected the city and it will do so forever.