South and Southwest of West Kazakhstan, South of the Volga-Ural Interfluve in the Thirteenth to Sixteenth Centuries: Golden Horde Caravan Routes and Caravanserais
Золотоордынские караванные пути и караван-сараи на юге и юго-западе Западного Казахстана и юге Волго-Уральского междуречья в ХІІІ–ХVІ вв.
Muktar A.K. Akhmetova U.T. Imashev E.Zh.
2023Kalmyk Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences
Oriental Studies
2023#16Issue 51065 - 1086 pp.
Introduction. In West Kazakhstan and the Volga-Ural interfluve, it is Golden Horde cities, caravan routes, and caravanserais that remain as under- or uninvestigated. Particular attention be paid to the necessity of exploring caravan routes and caravanserais from Urgench to Saraychik (Saray-Jük), and from Saraychik to the Volga Golden Horde cities. Goals. The study seeks to systemize and analyze materials on caravan routes and caravanserais in the south and southwest of West Kazakhstan and in the south of the Volga-Ural interfluve. It also aims at reconstructing some functioning patterns of caravan trade routes from Saraychik to the Volga Golden Horde cities in the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries. So, the paper shall systemize and examine archaeological, ethnographic, archival data and sources on the Golden Horde cities, caravan routes, and caravanserais across the mentioned territories; describe some identified caravan routes and caravanserais. Materials and methods. The work focuses on materials from archaeological excavations in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan; considers outcomes of field (expeditionary) historical, geographical, and ethnographic surveys conducted across Mangystau and Atyrau Regions of Kazakhstan in 2019–2022; performs analyses of geographical maps. The research methodology includes general scientific, historical, and geographical tools and techniques. Results. The paper basically systemizes the efforts undertaken by scholars affiliated to Saraishyq State Reserve Museum of History and Culture (Kazakhstan). The field (expeditionary) surveys have identified more Golden Horde sites and settlements to yield an improved map of caravan routes. At large, the article provides a general territorial scheme of caravan routes and caravanserais from the Golden Horde period across the south and southwest of West Kazakhstan and the south of the Volga-Ural interfluve. Conclusions. Our insights attest to that the Golden Horde caravanserais and caravan routes were characterized by quite efficient territorial patterns in the examined regions that grew to shape a comprehensive transit-trade system for the transfer of people, goods, and knowledge along a northern branch of the Silk Road.
caravan routes , caravanserai , Golden Horde , history of Kazakhstan , medieval cities , Saraychik , Silk Road , Ulus of Jochi , Volga-Ural interfluve , West Kazakhstan
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Saraishyq State Reserve Museum of History and Culture, 11, Myrzagali St., Dr. Sc, 060707, Kazakhstan
Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University, 1, Studenchesky Ave., Atyrau, 060011, Kazakhstan
Utemisov West Kazakhstan State University, 162, Nazarbayev Ave., Uralsk, 090000, Kazakhstan
Saraishyq State Reserve Museum of History and Culture
Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University
Utemisov West Kazakhstan State University
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