In 1071, The Seljuk Turks won a decisive victory over the Byzantine Empire and from then on, the Turkish presence in Anatolia was permanent. The Seljuks brought with them new artistic elements from Asia. The outstanding characteristics of the Seljuk architecture were tall gateways with ornamental stalactites, ogival archways and ceramic tiling. The exterior of the mosques of the Seljuk period are impressive, although not as decorative as Ottoman mosques. The Alaeddin Mosque in Konya is one of the most typical of Seljuk mosques. The Ulu Mosque in Konya is also a memorable Seljuk mosque with its interior elaborately patterned and ornamented. The "medrese"s (universities of that time), mosques, inns, bridges and roads and many other artifacts of the daily life of the Seljuks can be observed in any part of the country.

The founder of the Seljuk dynasty was a commander from the Kırık tribe of the Oghuz who in 985 converted to Islam in what is now Uzbekistan. He and later his sons fought in a series of conquests and small wars, first for other rulers and eventually as their own host.

The clan gradually drifted west, eventually into Iran, where they set up as supporters of the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad, who gave the Seljuk leader the title of sultan.

From roughly 1050 on, the Seljuks raided and conquered much of what is now Iraq, Syria and Turkey, expanding the Turkish presence in Anatolia especially after winning the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.

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