Peter the Great Society for the Study of Astrakhan Region: Writings of Its Members on Kalmyk History and Culture, Last Quarter of the 19th – Early 20th Centuries
Introduction. The article investigates the ethnographic component in activities of the regional scientific society — Peter the Great Society for the Study of Astrakhan Region widely known in Russia, including due to works on the history and culture of the Kalmyk people. Goals. The study aims to d...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Российской академии наук, Калмыцкий научный центр
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Oriental Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://kigiran.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/2654/2427 |
| Summary: | Introduction. The article investigates the ethnographic component in activities of the
regional scientific society — Peter the Great Society for the Study of Astrakhan Region widely known
in Russia, including due to works on the history and culture of the Kalmyk people. Goals. The study
aims to delineate the image of the scientific society that became known nationwide and gave ‘food and arguments’ for public thought, which determined its significance in the Lower Volga Region’s
multinational space in the mid-to-late 19th and 20th centuries. Materials and Methods. The article
analyzes scientific works, collected documents from Astrakhan archives and museums to review
results of diverse efforts undertaken by the Society’s members on collecting sources, interpreting
them, translating the knowledge gained into public discourse. The main research methods are those
of synchrony and diachrony, classification and evaluation, statistical and comparative ones. Results.
The Astrakhan scientific society grew to become a most authoritative one in Russia thanks to research
works of its members, facilitated the awakening of public conscience, motivated the population to start
exploring their region, interacted with various social and cultural groups, administrative structures to
solve urgent problems of social development. One of the brightest research areas of the Society was
that dealing with the past of the Kalmyks that inhabited Astrakhan Governorate. The paper analyzes
certain features of studies in the history and culture of the Kalmyks conducted by members of the
Society, reveals the role and significance of their works in the formation of professional ethnography
in Astrakhan Oblast, and introduces new sources into scientific circulation. |
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| ISSN: | 2619-0990 2619-1008 |