Russian Sources of the Qur’anic Ethnography I. Sergei Syromyatnikov Mission in the Gulf in 1900

Abstract

The Qur’anic ethnography as self‑contained research area is based on the results of specialized studies of previous years and is closely related to the studies of the Qur’anic language and the language milieu of Arabia in the time of the Prophet, to the ethnographical field studies in Arabia as well as the Qur’anic archaeology. Researchers of Arabia are very well familiar with the phenomenon of the long preservation of elements of traditional material culture and economic activity here. This phenomenon is mostly based on the specific natural and climatic conditions, which brought about a set of elements of material culture, that have proved to be highly viable throughout many centuries. In this connection we regard the itineraries and works of European travellers to Arabia in the second half of the 18th century — first third of the 20th century as a serious source for our research. Whereas the names and papers of the Western travellers are well‑known and have been often referred to in various research projects devoted to Arabia, the works of Russian diplomats, intelligence officers, naval officers, scholars and travellers are still waiting for their turn. Meanwhile, the works of Russian travellers contain no less interesting information than the works of their Western contemporaries. The article is dedicated to the works of Sergey N. Syromyatnikov (1864—1933). His status while travelling to the Gulf Area in 1900 is quite difficult to determine. Was he a journalist or a spy, or special envoy?