As seen, Tunceli is two distinct lands. Its north is Dersim proper (Merkez, Ovacık, Pülümür, Nazımiye, Hozat, and the northern tip of Mazgirt). Its south comprises Çarsancak (Pertek and Mazgirt) and Çemişgezek.SOUTHThe historical function of the Sunni and profoundly pro-state Çarsancak and Çemişgezek lordships was to form a sort of Great Wall against the plunder of the Dersim tribes.The question of the origins of the Çemişgezek lords is complex. It appears that by the 16th century at the latest, they chose to become 'Turks'. The population, which was almost entirely Armenian at that time, also followed the path of their lords.The Çarsancak lords, on the other hand, are a mix of Kurdish and Turkish. The peasantry of Çarsancak remained predominantly Armenian until the 19th century. Their languages were Kurdish (Kurmanji) and Turkish. The Armenians of Pertek gradually became Turkified between the 16th and 19th centuries. In Mazgirt, Kurdish identity prevailed.NORTHMore than two-thirds of Dersim's old village names are Armenian. However, by the end of the 19th century, there was no dense Armenian concentration in the northern districts, apart from three to five households in almost every village. It is understood that in Dersim's extremely anarchic environment, a) the Armenian population adapted to local animist beliefs due to the lack of churches and schools, and b) a few Armenian families were maintained in each village for functions requiring specialized skills.In the north, among the Zaza-speaking tribes, there are small groups of Alevis who claim Turkish origin and enjoy social prestige. One may consider these to be refugee elements that took shelter in Dersim during the 16th-century persecutions of Alevis. It even seems to me (though I am not certain) that Dersim Alevism consists merely of a blend of local animist beliefs with the Alevi teachings and practices brought to the region by Turks in the 16th century.