№ 1 2015

CONCERNING THE NOMADIC CULTURE OF THE GOLDEN HORDE

R.S. Khakimov
(Sh.Marjani Institute of History,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan)

Researchers consider nomadic and sedentary cultures as evolutionary stages. The nomadic phase precedes a settled one as an inferior stage of civilization. The evolutionary view does not explain the combination of nomadic and settled cultures in the Golden Horde and the preservation of many features of nomadism in the future, up to the present day.

A number of experts, in particular, Thomas Barfield believes that nomadic societies exist by levying tribute from the settled state, which raises doubts. The Eurasian nomadic civilization is associated with the organization of vital activity in the conditions of steppe climate zone requiring constant migrations aimed at producing a sufficient amount of livestock. Robbery and receiving tribute from other societies is not its main characteristic. More important for it is a specific arrangement of humans, animals, and vehicles allowing the movement of large numbers of people over long distances. The nomads were not so strongly tied to the land as sedentary people. The structure of society was not built according to a vertical hierarchy but on the clan system. The nomads provoked the Great Migration and created a number of nomadic empires as well as the Golden Horde, the top of nomadic civilization. The ability to integrate different peoples in the uniform State was associated with openness and toleration of nomadic culture.

The nomads took advantage of warfare methods through mobility, effective combinations of weapons, horses, vehicles, and skills training of combat operations. Their army was not hired or regular but represented the people-army. The ability to effective warfare contributed to the nomadic expansion and exploration of the Eurasian space.

The nomadic culture of the Golden Horde had its own characteristics associated with the conjunction of nomadic and settled population in the uniform State. Nomadism does not disappear as a culture and mentality over time. Large spaces and lack of federalization stimulate a return to the clan relations even today.

Globalization, with its transparent boundaries, reproduces many of the elements of nomadism: mobility, openness, tolerance, non-hierarchical administrative system.

Keywords: nomadic culture, nomadic empires, nomadism, Golden Horde, Russia, Tatars.

About the author: Rafail’ Sibgatovich Khakimov – Director, Sh.Marjani Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan (AS RT), Vice-president of AS RT, Academician of AS RT, Dr. Sci. (History) (420014, Kremlin, entrance 5, Kazan, Russian Federation); history@tataroved.ru

THE NOMADS AND BYZANTINE EMPIRE IN THE WRITINGS
OF EARLY BYZANTINE HISTORIANS OF THE 4^TH–6^TH CENTURIES

Olesia Zhdanovich

(Institute of History of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine)

 

Based on the information of Byzantine authors (Ammianus Marcellinus, Priscus Panites, Procopius of Caesarea, Agathius Myrine, Menander Protector), this paper explores the relationship between the Byzantines and nomadic peoples of the Eurasian Steppe – the Huns, Turks, and Avars. The author illuminates the peculiarities of perception of the nomadic barbarians from the point of view of the Byzantine imperial worldview. Based on the analysis of the Byzantine sources, the author has attempted to uncover the Romans’ subjective perception of the eastern steppe civilizations.

This article contains some information about the appearance, customs, traditions, and way of life of nomads, their relations with the Byzantine Empire since the advent of the hordes of Huns in its territory in the late 4^th century up to diplomatic relations with the first steppe empire – the Great Turkic Khaganate as well as Avar khanate in the 6^th century. Author clarified the propensity of eastern nomadic and western settled civilizations to the establishment of bilateral contacts and traced the dynamics and evolution of their mutual relationship. The author translated from ancient Greek the fragments of works of early Byzantine authors contained in this article

Keywords: Huns, Romans, Turks, Avars, empire of the steppe, Great Turkic Khaganate, nomads.

About the author: Olesia Petrovna Zhdanovich – Research Associate, Sector of civilizations of the Black Sea Region, Department of Regional history, Institute of History of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Cand. Sci. (History) (01001, Grushevsky st., 4, Kiev, Ukraine); olbio@bk.ru

EARLY LATIN REPORTS ABOUT THE MONGOLS (1221):
REASONS FOR DISTORTION OF REALITY

Roman Hautala

(Sh.Marjani Institute of History,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan

University of Oulu, Finland)

The first mention of the Mongols appears in Latin sources in 1221. According to these sources, the Mongol army, which accomplished a number of conquests in Central Asia, Persia, and Transcaucasia, consisted of baptized nomads. Latin authors asserted that at the head of this army stood a certain David, “king of the Indies”, which sought to help the Middle Eastern Christians and “liberate” Jerusalem from Muslim rule. Undoubtedly, the Latin sources meant by the “deeds of king David” the first western campaign of the Mongols led by Genghis Khan, which began in 1219 and was directed against the Central Asian sultanate of Khwarezm. These Latin sources were written at the time, when the troops of Genghis Khan had already conquered Khwarezmian territory in Central Asia and began military actions in Khorasan, while the separate divisions of the Mongols led by Jebe and Subedei invaded Transcaucasia and inflicted the first serious defeat to the Christian kingdom of Georgia.

Even though the later Oriental sources indicate the presence of certain baptized nomads in the Mongol army, at the moment it is known for certain that the bulk of the nomadic army of Genghis Khan did not adhere to the Christian religion and the Mongol divisions led by Jebe and Subedei were sent by Genghis Khan in the west in pursuit of the former Khwarezmian Sultan Muhammad rather than for the “liberation” of Jerusalem or provision of any tangible support to the Middle Eastern Christians.

Thus, the early Latin information about the Mongols contains relatively accurate description of the western conquests of Genghis Khan, but represent a specific explanation for the Mongol expansion, which does not correspond to historical reality.

This article represents an attempt to explain this distortion of reality.

In the first part of the article, the author gives a brief description of the Latin sources containing information about the “king David’s” advance to the west. In the second part, the author attempts to find an explanation for the distortion of historical reality in Latin sources by considering the information of these sources in the ideological context of the Fifth Crusade.

Keywords: Crusade ideology, Fifth Crusade, Khwarezmian campaign of Genghis Khan, Nestorian documents, Latin sources.

About the author: Roman Hautala – Senior Research Fellow, Usmanov Center for Research on the Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates, Sh.Marjani Institute of History Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan; Postdoctoral researcher, Historical branch at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Ph.D. (History) (420014, Kremlin, entrance 5, Kazan, Russian Federation; 90014, Pentti Kaiteran st., 1, Oulu, Finland); virisequisque@hotmail.com

THE FINAL STAGE OF MONGOL INVASION OF EUROPE:
A MILITARY FORCE AND SECRET DIPLOMACY (1)* 

A.V. Maiorov

(Faculty of History, St. Petersburg State University)

The paper analyzes the sources of information on the direct contact of the Emperor Frederick II with the Mongols before the attack of the latter on Europe, the persistent rumors of his collusion with the invaders, who came to blow mainly to the enemies of Frederick, the refusal of the Emperor of an armed clash with the Tatars, the refusal to participate in the Crusade prepared by the German prelates against the Tatars, but instead – a withdrawal of the imperial troops in Italy and the siege of Rome in order to force the pope to recognize the supremacy of the Emperor, the sudden retreat of the Tartars themselves from the German border and the abandonment of the original plans for the conquest of Germany, unexpected counteraction against Frederick of the German prelates who had been previously loyal to the Emperor and who accused him of a serious crime against the Church and the whole of Christianity. The author concludes that the Emperor Frederick and the leaders of the Western Mongol campaign were associated with secret mutual obligations. Many of his contemporaries were aware of the Emperor’s secret contacts with the Tartars (Albert von Beheim, Matthew Paris, and others.). The author analyzes the information and is trying to separate the elements of political propaganda from the established facts. The Emperor’s conspiracy with the Tatar leaders is indicated both by direct evidence and numerous indirect information analyzed in the article. On the one hand, the Emperor did everything possible to avoid a direct military confrontation with the Tatars and disrupt plans of his supporters in Germany to combat the invaders. On the other hand, the Tatar impact in Europe fell entirely on the Friedrich’s enemies who took the side of the pope in the latter’s conflict with Emperor. As a result of the Tatar invasion of Europe position of the Emperor in his confrontation with the Roman church greatly strengthened. This change in the balance of power obviously angered the church prelates and the subsequent rebellion of the German Bishops against Friedrich provoked long civil war in Germany.

Keywords: Emperor Frederick II, Pope Gregory IX, Batu khan, Crusade against the Tatars.

About the author: Alexander Vyacheslavovich Maiorov – Professor, Head of the Department of Museology, Faculty of History, St. Petersburg State University, Dr. Sci. (History) (199034, Mendeleevskaya Liniya, 5, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation); a.v.maiorov@gmail.com

* Beginning of the article. End of the article see in the next issue.

THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN MENGU-TIMUR AND ABAGA:
THE PROBLEM OF THE SOURCES INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION
OF PERSIAN AND TURKIC TERM IN ARABIC TEXTS
(on the example of “Collection of Materials Relating to the Golden Horde History.
Volume I. Excerpts from the Arabic Writings” composed by V.G. Tiesenhausen)

Damirdzhan Zainuddinov

(Sh.Marjani Institute of History,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan)

The article deals with the problem of translation of Persian and Turkic lexical units in Arabic texts written between the 13^th and 16^th centuries. Author examines as an example an excerpt from the work of Ibn Khaldun (732/1332 – 808/1406) translated by V.G. Tiesenhausen. The author provides comments to the given translation and presents his own translation.

The author also presents original analysis of the source both about the relations between Golden Horde and Constantinople and on the battle of Homs in 680 AH between Mangu Timur, son of Hulagu, and the Mamluk sultan al-Mansur. The author tries to prove that Mengu-Timur, son of Togan, did not participate in that war.

This article also presents new sources of such authors as Yunini Kutb ad-din Musa ibn Muhammad (640/1242 – 726/1326), Yafi’I Abdulla ibn As’ad (698 – 768 AH) and bibliographic collection of al-Markisi Taki ad-din (died in 845 AH).

Keywords: V.G. Tiesenhausen, Ibn Khaldun Turkic and Persian languages, Mengu-Timur, Abaga, Baybars Rukn al-Din al-Mansouri, Yunini Qutb al-Din, Yafi’i ‘Abdullah ibn As’ad, emir Uzdemir al-Homsi.

About the author: Damirdzhan Rustamdzhonovich Zainuddinov – post-graduate student of Usmanov Center for Research on the Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates, Sh.Marjani Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan (420014, Kremlin, entrance 5, Kazan, Russian Federation); abu-hanifanur@yandex.ru

THE FIRST MATHEMATICAL BOOK IN THE GOLDEN HORDE STATE:
A MASTERPIECE OF COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS
(“ET-TUHFE FÎ ILMI’L-HISÂB”) (2)*

Ihsan Fazlioğlu

(Istanbul Medeniyet University)

The Turkish author Ihsan Fazlioğlu presents to attention of readers the second part of the article “A Masterpiece of Computational Mathematics” (“et-Tuhfe fî ilmi’l-hisâb”). The author of this article presents the first example of an established scientific activity in the Golden Horde, which began before Janibek khan, during the reign of Uzbek khan. The work written in the Golden Horde on a mathematical topic occupies a special place because of the information contained therein. This treatise shows that the scientific activity in the Golden Horde, which began with the conversion to Islam, brought results in a short time and laid the foundations for “breakthroug” during the reign of Janibek khan.

The author examines this composition from a historical perspective. The Computational book “et-Tuhfe fî ilmi’l-hisâb”, whose author is unknown, was handed during the reign of Uzbek Khan (1313–1342) to the ruler of the Crimean ulus of the Golden Horde Ebul-Muzaffer Giyaseddin Tuluktemir bey. After mentioning the distinguishing features of the work, the author pays particular attention to the definition of numbers, which is attributed to Muhammad b. Musa al-Khwarizmi and which, at the moment, is not recorded elsewhere. The author disputes the capacity for understanding of the evidence used in the calculation, surveying, and algebra, and will consider definitions with respect to the theory of numbers. Further, the author will analyze the formula of approximate values of square and cube roots of irrational numbers proposed by Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Abdulkadir al-Baghdadi, and the teacher of the author, Saduruddin al-Farazi.

This part examines the author of the work and features of his age as well as the scientific environment that contributed to the writing of the “et-Tuhfe fî ilmi’l-hisâb”. The article presents the contents of the work and familiarizes the reader with the scientists and their works, which are referenced by the author.

Keywords: Golden Horde, Uzbek khan, mathematics, algebra, Dasht-i Kipchak, Islam.

About the author: Ihsan Fazliolu – Istanbul Medeniyet University, member of the Scientific Council of the Turkish Historical Society, Professor, Ph.D. (Philosophy) (34700, Ünalan Mah., No. 98, Üsküdar, Stambul, Turkey); bilgi@ihsanfazlioglu.net

* Continuation. See the beginning in: Golden Horde Review, 2014, № 4(6), pp. 57–68. Russian translation from Turkish by Yu.N. Nagimova and I.M. Mirgaleev.

THE TATAR GENEALOGIES (SHEDZHERES)

M.I. Akhmetzyanov

(G. Ibragimov Institute of Language, Literature and Art,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan)

 

The article is aimed at studying the relationship between the modern Tatar publicistic and medieval written monuments of the Golden Horde, Crimea, and Kazan Khanate.

Since the medieval Tatar written monuments are syncretic in content, they have the features of many types of genres of contemporary written document. In this case, the article sets the task to emphasize the similarity of these monuments with modern documents with publicistic content.

As a result of research the author found that the medieval Tatar official yarlyks, charters and letters are the precursors of contemporary governmental letters and agreements. The only difference is that they are likely to reflect the official State ideology, whereas the modern Tatar publicistics reflect the public reaction to the news in the life of society.

Keywords: Golden Horde, Crimea, Kazan, tarkhans, khans, interstate relations.

About the author: Marsel Ibragimovic Akhmetzyanov – Leading Research Fellow at the Department of Manuscripts, Research and Archival Fund, G. Ibra­gimov Institute of Language, Literature and Art, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, Dr. Sci. (Philology) (420014, Kremlin, exhibition hall “Manezh”, Kazan, Russian Federation); zolotayaorda.centr@mail.ru

THE GOLDEN HORDE STATE IN THE SYSTEM
OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

I.М. Mirgaleev

(Sh. Marjani Institute of History,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan)

The present article examines the place of the Golden Horde in the system of international relations of the 13^th–14^th centuries as well as directions of its foreign policy.

To determine the place of the ulus of Jochi in the international system the author suggests to disclose the subject through illumination of such important issues as:

– the Mongol conquests and creation of the Chingisid state entities, the establishment of a new international order.

– formation of the ulus of Jochi as an independent State and its role in the Chingisid States’ relations, the kurultai of 1269.

– international activities of the Golden Horde State during the period of its might.

– interstate coalitions in the global geopolitics and national interests of the ulus of Jochi in international systems.

– The role and place of the Golden Horde in the international life of the second half of the 14^th – early 15^th centuries. The program activity of the Jochids in a new geopolitical situation of the late 14^th – early 15^th centuries.

The author believes that the establishment of the Golden Horde State occurred in three phases (1207–1241, 1242–1259, 1260–1269). The Jochids’ policy towards their neighbors and other Chingisid states formed during this time.

Both the Distemper of the 1360–70’s in the ulus of Jochi and destruction of all other Chingisid States resulted in the Golden Horde’s loss of its place in the system of international relations. Therefore, the program activity of the Jochids in a new geopolitical situation of the late 14^th – early 15^th centuries, was aimed at restoring the international authority of the State.

The author considers the directions of the Golden Horde foreign policy, which were laid down during the reign of Berke khan and remained a priority until the end of the 14^th century.

Keywords: Golden Horde, ulus of Jochi, Mongol Empire, system of inter­national relations, geopolitics, Chinggisids, kurultai.

About the author: Il’nur Midkhatovich Mirgaleev – Head of the Usmanov Center for Research on the Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates, Sh.Marjani Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, Cand. Sci. (History) (420014, Kremlin, entrance 5, Kazan, Russian Federation); dilnur1976@mail.ru

THE TATAR LITERATURE OF THE LATE MIDDLE AGES

Kh.Yu. Minnegulov

(Kazan Federal University)

The Tatar verbal art of the 15^th–18^th centuries developed over more than three centuries and reflected, reflects very complicated, contradictory, and tragic periods in the history of the Tatar people. This is a time of the Golden Horde disintegration and formation on its vast territory of the Crimean, Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian, Nogai, and Kasimov khanates. This is a time of establishing, rise, and conquest of the Tatar States. This is a time of severe colonial oppression, loss of a significant part of the spiritual and material values accumulated over the centuries. Moreover, at this stage of history, and especially after the elimination of Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, the population living in the Crimean khanate gradually begins to separate from the relatively uniform linguistic, cultural, and ethnic Tatar space due to the tangible Ottoman influence.

Therefore, we should consider the verbal art of this era in three aspects and under three items:

1) Tatar literature of the Kazan khanate period (middle of the 15^th – middle of the 17^th centuries), including not only the Kazan khanate’s literature, but also of other Tatar States and, in particular, of the Astrakhan, Siberian, Nogai, Crimean, Kasimov khanates, as well as of the Great Horde;

2) Crimean Tatar verbal art of the 15^th–18^th centuries, that is, of the Crimean State including not only the Crimean peninsula, but also large areas of the Wes­tern Ciscaucasia, Northern Black Sea coast, as well as areas of the Azov region.

Of course, this division of more than three centuries’ literary development is, to some extent, arbitrary. At the same time, it contributes to the formation of a certain idea about the Tatar verbal art’s development during the mentioned centuries.

Keywords: historical legacy of the Tatar people, Tatar verbal art, Tatar literature of the Kazan Khanate, Crimean Tatar verbal art, Tatar literature.

About the author: Khatip Yusupovich Minnegulov – Professor at the Kazan Federal University, Dr. Sci. (Philology) (420021, Tatarstan, st., 2, Kazan, Russian Federation); tatlit1103@mail.ru

TRANSCRIPT OF THE ROUNDTABLE “THE HORDE-BAZAR:
NOMADIC HORDE OR NOMADIC CITY”.

Differentiated understanding of history

Roundtable of the series “Phenomenon of the Golden Horde”.

13^th May, 2014. Kazan, Institute of History of
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan

13^th May 2014, a round table “The Horde-Bazar: Nomadic Horde or Nomadic City?” has been held as part of the series “The Phenomenon of the Golden Horde”. The round table was attended by I.M. Mirgaleev, D.M. Iskhakov, I.L. Izmaylov, R.M. Valeev, E.G. Sayfetdinova, A.I. Bugarchev, as well as gra­duate students and applicants of the Usmanov Center for Research of the Golden Horde History.

Head of the Center, I.M. Mirgaleev, opened the event by proposing to discuss such questions as: whether the Horde-Bazar was a city? Or a nomadic horde of khan? How researchers should treat information of the sources? M.S. Gatin noted the need to more clearly define the concept of “nomadic city” and “nomadic horde”. Maybe, it was the mere Horde’s mention in Russian chro­nicles? In turn, I.L. Izmaylov suggested that Russian sources do not necessarily understand Sarai under the term of “Horde”. The Horde might be the common name of the travel scope of Russian rulers. D.M. Iskhakov noted with regards to the concepts and definitions, that the terms “Horde-Bazar” and “Horde” did not necessarily mean the same concept. Moreover, we see in the sources that there was a post of “the prince of bazar” who ran this institution (bazar) within the Horde. E.G. Sayfetdinova noted that Ötemish Hajji mentions in his “Chingiz-name” the term of the Horde-bazar. He says on the election of Timur Malik as new khan that when he came to the throne, there was delivered a sermon in the Horde-bazar. R.M. Valeev stressed that it is important to pay attention to the minting of coins for the determination of the Horde-bazar. If in the 13^th century the name of the “Horde-bazar” is absent, then in the 14^th century it is mentioned as a center of coinage. A.I. Bugarchev added that in the 13^th century there was one concept of “Horde” and in the 14^th century the “Horde” appears on coins. We still do not know whether it was one or more mints. So, when we talk about the Horde-bazar, it is necessary to clarify what period we mean.

In the final part of the event there was defined range of problems that can be offered to debate aimed at holding such meetings regularly. Thus, the roundtable participants noted the need for close mutual cooperation of scholars to solve the problematic issues concerning the history of the Golden Horde.

Keywords: “Horde-Bazar”, Golden Horde, history, medieval cities, nomadic lifestyle, written sources, archaeology, numismatics, literary monuments of the Golden Horde.

QALANDAR-NAME. CHAPTER 4. “PRAISING ‘UMAR, COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL”*

Abu Bakr Qalandar

The presented fragment is the next part of the translation of the medieval poetic text “Qalandar-name” written by Abu Bakr Qalandar, the Sufi scholar from the Crimea. This Chapter is devoted to praises to ‘Umar ibn Khattab al-Faruq (The Distinguish), the Successor of the Prophet Muhammad, the second of the four Righteous Caliphs (al-Khulafa al-Rashidun). Within the nine rows the author mentions the virtues of ‘Umar making the main emphasis on his active support for Islam and justice for people. The Persian text is translated by Milyausha Ismagilova, the postgraduate student. The translation’s edition and comments are supplied by Damir Shagaviev, Head of the Department of History of Religions and Social Thought at the Sh.Marjani Institute of History of AS RT (Kazan).

* Continuation. See the beginning in: Golden Horde Review, 2014, № 2(4), pp. 243–252; № 3(5), pp. 207–214; №4(6), pp. 198–207. Russian translation from Persian by a graduate student M.R. Ismagilova. Academic edition of the translation and comments by D.A. Sha­gaviev, Head of the Department of History of Religions and Social Thought at the Sh.Marjani Institute of History of AS RT (Kazan).

INFORMATION OF “JAWĀMI UL-HIKĀYĀT” BY AL-‘AWFI
ON THE SAMANIDS, KARAKHANIDS, SELJUKIDS
AND KHWAREZMSHAHS (1)*

T.K. Beisembiev

(Institute of Oriental Studies, Almaty, Kazakhstan)

 

The article continues a series of Beisembiev’s publications [9; 13; 14] on “Jawāmi ul-Hikāyāt wa Lawāmi’ ul-Riwāyāt” by Sadid al-Din Muhammad al-‘Awfi (completed in the second quarter of the 13^th century), the largest literary and historical prosaic work in Persian classical literature of pre-Mongol and Mongol periods. It contains a collection of over 2,100 stories (very poorly studied) on diverse subjects. Up to the present, a complete scholarly edition of this greatest historical source is not available.

On the basis of all available publications and a manuscript copy of the early 14^th century, Supplément Persan 95 (La Bibliothèque nationale de France), the author presents for the first time his Russian commented translation of 52 Awfi’s stories (hikayat) on the Ghaznavids, Samanids, Karakhanids, Seljukids and Khwa­rezmshahs and provides their interpretation. The titles of the stories, absent in the original, are invented by the translator. Each title is indicated by those number in parentheses, which is specified in the fundamental study on ‘Awfi by Muhammad Nizam ud-Din [40]. At the end of each story there is indicated, in square brackets, a bibliographical reference to the source, from which its translation was made. The “Repertoire” of ‘Awfi containing stories about the Samanids, Karakhanids, Seljukids and Khwarezmshahs is followed by a summarized table of all stories by ‘Awfi pertaining to these dynasties (totally 78 stories, from which 27 translated previously, with bibliographical notes to their publication).

Analysis of the works on the dynasties in question by the famous academics (V.V. Bartold, V.A. Gordlevsky, C.E. Bosworth, S.G. Agadjanov, Z.M. Bu­niya­tov, N.N. Negmatov and B.D. Kochnev) shows that, unfortunately, none of them pay due attention to the valuable information of ‘Awfi.

The author hopes that his publication will provide a deeper understanding in the study of Central Asian history as well as that of other regions in the pre-Mongol period.

Keywords: ‘Awfi, Ghaznavids, Samanids, Karakhanids, Seljukids, Khwarezmshahs, 10^th–13^th centuries, Persian classical literature, Persian historical sources, pre-Mongol period, Turks, Central Asia, Byzantium.

About the author: Timur Kasymovich Beisembiev – Leading Research Associate, Department of Near and Middle East, Institute of Oriental Studies (Almaty), Committee for Science, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Cand. Sci. (History), Senior Research Fellow (50010, Kurmangazy st., 29, Almaty, Kazakhstan); shighistanu@mail.ru

* Beginning of the article. Continuation of the article see in the next issue.

ONCE AGAIN ABOUT THE RUSSIAN TRANSLATION
OF THE MANCHU VERSION OF “YUANSHI”

S.V. Sidorovich

(Sh.Marjani Institute of History,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan)

The author of the article continues the study of Russian translation of the monument “Dai Yuan gurun-i suduri” – Manchu variant of the “Yuanshi” (The History of the Yuan [dynasty]) chronicle. The two most typical examples of erroneous interpretation were cited from the recently published translation of the fourth scroll of the monument and then analyzed. Also the author’s own variant of the translation is offered. Thinking over the causes of the errors in translation of the particular parts of the monument, the author points at the necessity of comparison of the Manchu version with the primary source written in Chinese and appealing to more additional information, i.e. sources and researches.

Keywords: Yuan Dynasty, Yuanshi, Dai Yuan gurun-i suduri, P.I. Kamensky, Manchu Language.

About the author: Sergey Vladimirovich Sidorovich – post-graduate student of Usmanov Center for Research on the Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates, Sh.Marjani Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan (420014, Kremlin, entrance 5, Kazan, Russian Federation); sscc@zmail.ru

THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
“ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF THE STUDY AND PRESERVATION OF
THE ISLAMIC LEGACY OF THE CRIMEA” DEDICATED TO
THE 700^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOSQUE OF UZBEK KHANE.G. Sayfetdinova(Sh.Marjani Institute of History,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan)The International Scientific and Practical conference “Actual Problems of the Study and Preservation of the Islamic Legacy of the Crimea” dedicated to the 700^th Anniversary of the Mosque of Uzbek khan (the oldest surviving mosque in the peninsula) has been held in Simferopol (Crimea) 14^th–18^th October 2014. The conference has been attended by scholars from both the regions of Russia and from near and far abroad.Conference was organized by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimea, Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Tatar Museum of Art, Foundation for the Support of Islamic culture, science and education.

After the end of sessions, there has been approved a resolution, which identified the key recommendations for the conservation of the cultural heritage of the Crimea.

About the author: Elmira Gadelzyanovna Sayfetdinova – Senior Research Fellow, Usmanov Center for Research on the Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates, Sh.Marjani Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, Cand. Sci. (History) (420014, Kremlin, entrance 5, Kazan, Russian Federation); аdulya2@yandex.ru

THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “DOCUMENTS
ON THE TATAR HISTORY AND CULTURE IN FOREIGN ARCHIVES”
(1^ST – 2^ND october, 2014)

I.M. Mirgaleev

(Sh.Marjani Institute of History,
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan)

 

The International Conference “Documents on the Tatar History and Culture in Foreign Archives” has been held in Kazan 1^st – 2^nd October, 2014. The confe­rence was organized by Sh.Marjani Institute of History of Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Chief Archive Department under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan. The conference was held within the framework of the State program of the Republic of Tatarstan “Preservation of National Identity of the Tatar People (2014–2016)”.

The conference was organized in the form of a round table, where each report has been discussed. The moderators of the conference were M.M. Gibat­dinov and I.M. Mirgaleev, researchers of Sh.Marjani Institute of History. During the conference there has been discussed the issue of strengthening the study of foreign archives.

About the author: Il’nur Midkhatovich Mirgaleev – Head of the Usmanov Center for Research on the Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates, Sh.Marjani Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, Cand. Sci. (History) (420014, Kremlin, entrance 5, Kazan, Russian Federation); dilnur1976@mail.ru