The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »

In recent years, researchers have begun to pay greater attention to the ethnic aspects of the Great Mongolian State’s formation at the turn of the 12th–13th centuries. However, a key problem of this period still remains controversial. This problem is related to the definition of ethnicity of the Tat...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: D.M. Iskhakov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: State Institution «Sh.Marjani Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences» 2016-07-01
Series:Zolotoordynskoe Obozrenie
Subjects:
Online Access:http://goldhorde.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%D0%97%D0%9E-2-2016-420-442.pdf
_version_ 1811218443586764800
author D.M. Iskhakov
author_facet D.M. Iskhakov
author_sort D.M. Iskhakov
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, researchers have begun to pay greater attention to the ethnic aspects of the Great Mongolian State’s formation at the turn of the 12th–13th centuries. However, a key problem of this period still remains controversial. This problem is related to the definition of ethnicity of the Tatar and other kindred clans. This article analyzes the problem in order to achieve a clear understanding of the ethnic situation in Central Asia during the formation of Eke Mongol Ulus. As a result of consideration of historiographical approaches to ethnic nomenclature, which the Mongolian and Chinese sources used with respect to the Turkic and Mongolian groups that settled in this area, the author is inclined to the view of Turkish ethnicity of the Tatars and some other (Naimans, Merkits) clans known by source, whom Chinggis Khan faced in the process of formation of the “people of the Mongols”. At the same time, the author establishes a historical connection between the pre-Mongol Tartars and Kimak and Uyghur khaganates. In particular, he reveals their affiliation to the elite, “royal” layers of these Turkic states. In turn, this allows us to reveal the presence of a Tatar component among the eastern Kipchak-Kimaks (Yemeks) with close ties with the last dynasty of Khwarezm shahs. On the basis of a detailed and comprehensive review of material, the author points to the need for a new understanding of the term “Mongol-Tatars”. This term was not imposed by the Chinese officials, but it was a meaningful politonym marking a two-part (Turkic (Tatar) – Mongol) nature of the “people” who established the Great Mongol Empire. The author informs in his article about his plans to consider in detail this issue in relation to the ulus of Jochi.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T07:10:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ffd4bd9488c742c79e8f7c8b0a0770f2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2308-152X
2313-6197
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T07:10:05Z
publishDate 2016-07-01
publisher State Institution «Sh.Marjani Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences»
record_format Article
series Zolotoordynskoe Obozrenie
spelling doaj.art-ffd4bd9488c742c79e8f7c8b0a0770f22022-12-22T03:42:41ZengState Institution «Sh.Marjani Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences»Zolotoordynskoe Obozrenie2308-152X2313-61972016-07-0142420442The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »D.M. Iskhakov0Sh.Marjani Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences Kazan 420014, Russian FederationIn recent years, researchers have begun to pay greater attention to the ethnic aspects of the Great Mongolian State’s formation at the turn of the 12th–13th centuries. However, a key problem of this period still remains controversial. This problem is related to the definition of ethnicity of the Tatar and other kindred clans. This article analyzes the problem in order to achieve a clear understanding of the ethnic situation in Central Asia during the formation of Eke Mongol Ulus. As a result of consideration of historiographical approaches to ethnic nomenclature, which the Mongolian and Chinese sources used with respect to the Turkic and Mongolian groups that settled in this area, the author is inclined to the view of Turkish ethnicity of the Tatars and some other (Naimans, Merkits) clans known by source, whom Chinggis Khan faced in the process of formation of the “people of the Mongols”. At the same time, the author establishes a historical connection between the pre-Mongol Tartars and Kimak and Uyghur khaganates. In particular, he reveals their affiliation to the elite, “royal” layers of these Turkic states. In turn, this allows us to reveal the presence of a Tatar component among the eastern Kipchak-Kimaks (Yemeks) with close ties with the last dynasty of Khwarezm shahs. On the basis of a detailed and comprehensive review of material, the author points to the need for a new understanding of the term “Mongol-Tatars”. This term was not imposed by the Chinese officials, but it was a meaningful politonym marking a two-part (Turkic (Tatar) – Mongol) nature of the “people” who established the Great Mongol Empire. The author informs in his article about his plans to consider in detail this issue in relation to the ulus of Jochi.http://goldhorde.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%D0%97%D0%9E-2-2016-420-442.pdfMongolsMongol-TatarsTatarsKimaksUighursNaimansMerkitsMedieval Tatar ethnosTurkic (Tatar) – Mongol period of history.
spellingShingle D.M. Iskhakov
The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »
Zolotoordynskoe Obozrenie
Mongols
Mongol-Tatars
Tatars
Kimaks
Uighurs
Naimans
Merkits
Medieval Tatar ethnos
Turkic (Tatar) – Mongol period of history.
title The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »
title_full The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »
title_fullStr The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »
title_full_unstemmed The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »
title_short The Term of the “Tatar-Mongols/Mongol-Tatars”: The Ethnic or Political Concept? An Experience of the Source Study and Conceptual Analysis »
title_sort term of the tatar mongols mongol tatars the ethnic or political concept an experience of the source study and conceptual analysis
topic Mongols
Mongol-Tatars
Tatars
Kimaks
Uighurs
Naimans
Merkits
Medieval Tatar ethnos
Turkic (Tatar) – Mongol period of history.
url http://goldhorde.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%D0%97%D0%9E-2-2016-420-442.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT dmiskhakov thetermofthetatarmongolsmongoltatarstheethnicorpoliticalconceptanexperienceofthesourcestudyandconceptualanalysis
AT dmiskhakov termofthetatarmongolsmongoltatarstheethnicorpoliticalconceptanexperienceofthesourcestudyandconceptualanalysis