2020, vol. 8, no. 3. Timokhin D.M., Tishin V.V.

2020, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 437-456

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2020-8-3.437-456

   ETHNО-TRIBAL COMPOSITION OF DESHT-I KIPCHAK
AS AN OBJECT OF DISCUSSION
(ON V.A. IVANOV’S ARTICLE “NOMADS OF THE GOLDEN HORDE
IN THE PERCEPTION OF MODERN HISTORIANS”)

D.M. Timokhin 1, V.V. Tishin 2
1 Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS
Moscow, Russian Federation
horezm83@mail.ru

2 Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies
of the Siberian Branch of the RAS
Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation
tihij-511@mail.ru

Abstract: Research objectives: Published in 2018, an article by Prof. V.A. Ivanov pointed to a pressing problem regarding the possibility to correlate information provided in written sources with archaeological data, discussing it in the context of issues of localization of nomadic tribal groups in the Desht-i Kipchak in the period preceding the Mongol conquest. The authors of the present article are in agreement with V.A. Ivanov in recognizing this problem. However, they cannot agree with his manner of its presentation. A study of ethnic processes in the Eurasian steppes seems more complex than is presented in V.A. Ivanov’s view. In addition, it seems to the authors that Ivanov’s reproaches to researchers working with written sources are not entirely fair and correct.
Research materials: The authors submitted for discussion some of the more significant and indicative issues, in their view, related to the broad problem of identification of nomadic tribal groups of the Desht-i Kipchak. Therefore, they had to resort to both written sources and the body of research works. The foundation of the written sources used here is represented, first of all, by Arabic-Persian historical works. In addition, the data of linguistics and archaeology was also involved in the paper.
Results and novelty of the research: Pointing to several of the most illustrative issues in the ethnic history of the Desht-i Kipchak, the authors sought to demonstrate the real lack of unambiguous solutions based on data in written sources. Often real historical problems are dependent on subjective interpretation of texts provided by scholars. At the same time, their results are influenced by a combination of factors – such as the degree of informativeness of written sources as well as the approaches and personal capacities of the researcher. Moreover, the authors of this article express doubts that archaeologists have sufficient material on the history of the Eastern Desht-i Kipchak. Therefore, the question of the possibility of correlating this archaeological material with written sources is premature.

Keywords: written sources, archaeological materials, nomads, Desht-i Kipchak, Kipchaks, ethnic history, historiography

For citation: Timokhin D.M., Tishin V.V. Ethnо-tribal Composition of Desht-i Kipchak as an Object of Discussion (on V.A. Ivanov’s article “Nomads of the Golden Horde in the Perception of Modern Historians”). Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie=Golden Horde Review. 2020, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 437–456. DOI: 10.22378/2313-6197.2020-8-3.437-456

Acknowledgments: D.M. Timokhin’s work was carried out within the framework of State Assignment 0179/2019-0004 “Patterns of the historical development of the peoples of the East from ancient times to the mid-twentieth century”. V.V. Tishin’s work was supported by the Comprehensive Program of Fundamental Research of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences XII.191.1.2. Intercultural interaction, ethnic and socio-political processes in Central Asia, No. АААА-А17-117021310264-4.

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About the authors: Dmitry M. Timokhin – Cand. Sci (History), Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (12, Rozhdestvenka Str., Moscow 107031, Russian Federation). E-mail: horezm83@mail.ru

Vladimir V. Tishin – Cand. Sci (History), Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (6, Sakhyanova Str., Ulan-Ude 670047, Russian Federation). E-mail: tihij-511@mail.ru

Received  April 22, 2020   Accepted for publication  August 14, 2020
Published Online  September 29, 2020