The natural and climatic factors in the history of the Golden Horde and the Successor States
Research Article
Keywords:
paleoclimatology , Little Ice Age , Miyake event , Black Death , Golden HordeAbstract
This article examines the influence of the natural and climatic factors on the history of the Golden Horde and the successor states. In Russian historiography, as a result of the relatively small number of written sources. The practice of using data obtained in the course of paleoclimatological and paleogenetic studies in historical research has been established for a long time. This interdisciplinary approach was widely implemented in the study. The combination of data taken from various written sources made it possible to close some gaps in the history of medieval Turkic states. The concept of economic and cultural policies proposed in the article made it possible to substantiate the pattern of the appearance of the Golden Horde in Eurasia. Moreover, the "Black Death", repeated outbreaks of plague and other plague-like epidemics caused by the Little Ice Age, large-scale famine, and livestock deaths, played an important role in subsequent political processes. In the conditions of the large–scale cooling of the XIV–XVI centuries, the disappearance of the political, technological, and cultural leader of the Golden Horde region was a natural result. The application of paleoclimatic research data has made it possible to chronologically outline the main stages of this process. The rise or fall of the role of one or another heir of the Golden Horde in the second half of the XV–early XVI centuries was largely predetermined by the success of adapting its military strategy to rapidly changing climatic conditions. Therefore, one of the most important factors is overcoming the massive population decline, taking into account technological re-equipment and creating an effective management system. This was especially evident in the Moscow-Kazan confrontation. Despite the numerical and technological superiority over the Tatar opponent, the Muscovite state was forced to abandon large-scale campaigns. Gradually moving to the tactics of erecting new fortifications in the occupied territories and conducting raid operations deep in enemy territory during the winter period. Kazan, due to its proximity to the resource base, even despite the more archaic management system and permanent political crisis, was able to effectively reflect Moscow's expansion for a fairly long period. A major role in this process was played by the natural and climatic changes that occurred at the beginning of the 16th century. The warring parties' dependence on available resources increased. The coming warming forced the Moscow state to return to the tactics of organizing large campaigns. However, without the consolidation of all available resources and the construction of new strongholds in the Volga region, it would have been impossible to win the confrontation with Kazan and in the Volga region.
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