Tengrism was the religion of the steppe peoples of Eurasia, especially Turkish, Chinese, and Mongol nomads. The chief god was Tengri, the creator god who ruled the skies. Shamanism and animism also featured prominently in the religion. The Tengri faith was popular among the Central Asian and East Asian steppe nomads and barbarians, and the Mongol Empire spread the faith into the Middle East and Europe before adopting foreign religions such as Christianity and Islam.