>>25317
I don't see how exactly this contradicts with what I said. I already said they nomad around according to seasons and climate. Even today the word yaylak(summer place, usually mountain platos or anywhere with mild climate) and kışlak (kış literally meaning winter, understandably it means winter place)

As you said historians back then didnt really understand it. As for semi nomads khazars were one afaik and I cant remember which source they even had unique architechture so this confirms, there were (obviously) permanent settlements but I assume people who herd animals still roam around according to climate.

From my perspective, with time nomads started to become more like semi nomads meainly because:

1)With raids and trade interactions they manage to create 'powerbase's

2)Migrations being not so profitable due to expanding border of the settlers

I would say interactions with foreign societies is very crucial for any kind of development. Ancient greece became a thing due to constant interactions around mediterranean. Türko-Mongols and ancient greeks(then romans took the flag) were the most open societies when it came to being open towards interactions during the antiquity. Afaik Xiongu even had vases and pottery that comes from hellenic world.