Foreign Historiography Research Articles

ON THE QUESTION OF THE ORIGIN AND FORMATION OF THE WHITE MOVEMENT IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA IN 1917-1918

This article is a review of the fundamental work of Professor of the Institute of History of St. Petersburg State University, a major expert on the problems of the White Movement A. S. Puchenkov. The author, based on a huge amount of previously published and for the first time introduced into scientific circulation source material, as well as the latest achievements of domestic and foreign historiography, seeks to present his own view on the causes of the origin, organizational design, structure, ideology and many other aspects of the White Movement in the south of Russia. Despite the fact that only one year is analyzed chronologically in the monograph, in terms of content it became a time of great hopes and disappointments for the participants of the Volunteer Army, full of drama, the struggle for their ideals against the Bolsheviks and other revolutionary forces. Having his own clear political position regarding the events of the Civil War, A. S. Puchenkov, nevertheless, reserves the reader the right to come to his own conclusions, following the logic of the material presented in the book. This publication, without any doubt, makes a significant contribution to the further study and some revision of the cliches established in previous eras regarding the dramatic events of the Civil War and the White Movement.

“Silenced Generation”: South African Emigrant Writers and Their Fates (1950–1960s)

The article is devoted to the problem of emigration of writers from South Africa in the 1950s–1960s. Using the example of the fates of three South African writers – Peter Abrahams, Nat Nakasa and Arthur Nortier – the author raises the following questions: what were the reasons that forced the creative intelligentsia to leave their country? What was the state policy towards emigrants in the 1950s and 1960s? Why did emigration become an opportunity for some writers to gain political and creative freedom, while for others it became a path to self-destruction, loneliness and death? The problem of emigration and emigrant literature of South Africa is almost unexplored both in South Africa and in foreign historiography. However, the study of the fate of South African emigration sheds light on similar processes and problems in the history of other countries: the causes of emigration of intellectuals, the relations between writers and authorities, the problem of self-identification of representatives of various diasporas abroad, as well as the problem of intercultural and interracial dialogue both in literature and everyday life.

The Search for Methods to Increase Fines in England in the First Third of the 17th Century (on the Example of Lavenham Manor, Suffolk)

Transformation of agrarian relations in the English manor in the first half of the 17th century is still being studied in Russian and foreign historiography. The author of the article analyzes historical researches concerning the problem of entry fines in the manors in Early Modern England. The article also deals with the speech that the landlord D’Ewes gave in front of the peasants of his manorLavenham (Suffolk) in the manorial curia at the moment of his entry into inheritance in 1631. Analysis of its content reveals one of the ways to increase entry fines paid by copyholders. The uniqueness of the source allows tracing the arguments of the landlord to justify the legitimacy of raising fines and fixing them in the custom of a manor. Being an antiquarian, D’Ewes outlined in sufficient details the history of his manor, emphasizing the villain origin of current copyholders. He argues in his speech the existence of a triple connection between the landlord and the peasants of the manor (“sacred, sworn”, “servial” and “reditual” or profitable connection). The implementation of an innovation (“profitable part”) into the manorial custom and the creation of a precedent gave him a probable opportunity to change the level of the fines paid by the copyholders at his own will (as the will of the lord).

The First PhD Theses on Ancient History at the Leningrad State University (1938—1941): on the Formation of Soviet Dissertation Culture

The dissertation files of the postgraduate students in classics of the Leningrad State University and State Academy of the History of Material Culture who had defended their PhD theses in 1938—1941 were taken. These were the files of V. P. Kallistov, E. A. Millior, S. L. Utchenko, G. A. Stratanovsky, K. P. Lampsakov. The author concludes that the patronage of the professor — supervisor, which was based on the assessment of the candidate’s research abilities and knowledge of ancient languages, was the most important for admission to graduate school. Social origin and unseemly facts of biography were not of decisive importance. Scientific supervisors were mainly scientists of the old school — S. A. Zhebelev, S. Ya. Lurie, who independently determined the structure of graduate students’ training, focusing on the historical and philological approach, the use of different types of sources and appropriate critical analysis of the achievements of pre-revolutionary and foreign historiography. The topics of theses shows the desire to include Soviet science in the world, and the high demands — to produce a high-level scientists for teaching ancient history and ancient languages (at the time there was a severe shortage of specialists in these fields of knowledge), as well as to prepare summarizing multi-volume works on history.

Дербент в истории зороастризма на Кавказе

Introduction. For many centuries, the Caucasus has acted as a bridge, through which there was an intensive exchange not only of economic achievements, but also of the ideology of the highly developed regions of the Mediterranean, Minor and Central Asia. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted on the basis of interdisciplinary approaches and generally accepted historical methods. For the first time in Russian and foreign historiography, a study was conducted based on the analysis of ancient and medieval Greco-Roman, Armenian, Albanian, Georgian and Derbent authors, materials of Persian epigraphy and data from archaeological excavations conducted by the author in Derbent in 1970–1995. Analysis. In the III–V centuries AD, the Caucasus became the scene of a fierce confrontation between Rome and Sasanian Iran for the possession of this very important geopolitical region, in the history of which the Caucasian passages played a special role, and the most important of them was Derbent. By the 5th century A. D., the local elite and the population of Armenia, Caucasian Albania, and Georgia were already largely Christianized and oriented towards Christian Byzantium. The attempts of the Sassanids to plant Zoroastrianism here, which was the state religion of Iran, led to a number of major anti-Iranian uprisings of the peoples of the Caucasus against the «teachings of magicians», the success of which largely depended on the orientation of the Derbent rulers who controlled the Derbent Passage – the main «Gate» of the Caucasus. The Christian rulers of Armenia, Caucasian Albania, and Georgia, who led anti-Iranian uprisings in the Caucasus in the second half of the fifth century A. D., managed to extend their power to Derbent and attracted nomadic tribes of Southeastern Europe and North Caucasian highlanders to fight the Persians. The anti-Sasanian demonstrations in the Caucasus, under the banner of the struggle against Zoroastrianism, were most closely connected with Derbent. Results. Derbent in the VI century turned not only into a powerful fortification complex, but also into a developed early medieval city with a multi-ethnic population, mainly professing Christianity, while representatives of the Persian nobility, garrison and administration were Zoroastrians.

Political Portrait of Brezhnev

The article analyzes the features of the era of L. I. Brezhnev and its perceptions. The author presents his views on the political portrait of the Soviet leader. The article considers distinctive characteristics and stereotypical features of the image of the long-term leader of the Soviet state formed in the national and foreign historiography. The article indicates the key events and phenomena related to the foreign and domestic policy of the USSR under Brezhnev and describes the specific aspects of his managerial style. The author focuses on the details of the conspiracy to remove N. S. Khrushchev from power, and specifically point out that it was L. I. Brezhnev who headed this conspiracy, and not M. A. Suslov and A. N. Shelepin, as it is indicated in some research papers on the problem. The article also specifically examines the achievements of the foreign policy of the era of “détente”, the role of L. I. Brezhnev in the successes of the policy of those years, the model of his behavior in relations with foreign leaders, such as R. Nixon, J. Ford, V. Brandt, and others. The research is based on the testimonies of people who worked closely with L. I. Brezhnev and those who were in his inner circle. According to the author, L. I. Brezhnev was ready to retire at the end of the 1970s, but members of the Politburo insisted that he should keep his post. Brezhnev did not manage to survive as a politician; his death remained practically unnoticed by the Soviet people.

Letters of William Rockwell Thrall and William Lynn McMillen as a Source for Studying the Participation of American Doctors in the Crimean War

The service of American doctors in the Russian army during the Crimean war is one of the most interesting pages in the history of Russian-American relations. In 1854–1855, about 40 American physicians joined the Russian army. In general, more is known about American doctors in the Crimean theatre of military operations. However, American doctors were also present on the northern front in the Baltic area, particularly, in the Russian army in Finland. Four Americans — Drs Thrall, McMillen, Leas, and Smyser — served in Tavastehus temporary military hospital. In Russian and foreign historiography, the question of foreign doctors’ service on the northern front of the Crimean war has not been addressed, and the organization of the medical part of the Russian troops guarding the Baltic coast is under-researched. The material for this study was the letters of two American doctors, William Rockwell Thrall and William Lynn McMillen, published in the Daily Ohio State Journal and the Ohio Medical and Surgical Journal. For the first time letters from American physicians are introduced into scholarship. They are interesting not only as a historical source describing the condition of the Russian army and society during the Crimean War, but also as an example of positive experience of cooperation between Russia and the United States. This little-known material, enables to reconstruct a partial picture of American doctors’ service in Finland, their circle of acquaintances and their views on Russia.

Новая книга по историографии и источниковедению истории Сибири имперского периода

The article reviews the study guide by L.M. Dameshek, I.L. Dameshek, A.A. Ivanov, V.P. Shakherov “Essays on Historiography and Source Studies of the History of Siberia in the Age of Empire (19th - beginning of 20th century)” (Irkutsk, Irkutsk State University Publ., 2022, 319 p.). It is noted that the study guide of Irkutsk historians provides a detailed analysis of the main historiographical concepts of domestic and foreign historiography of the Russian state's peripheral policy in the imperial period. Special attention is paid to the comprehension in the domestic and foreign historiography of such concepts as “center”, “metropolis”, “far reaches”, “periphery”. It is indicated that the authors of the reviewed edition identified the main trends in the study of the history of the Siberian city by domestic and foreign researchers, as well as deeply analyzed their judgments on the problems of criminal and political exile and yasak regime in Siberia. A special section of the study guide describes the Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire as a source for the history of imperial policy in Siberia.

Предприятие и город в позднесоветском обществе 1950–1980-х годов: современная историография

The article describes the actual historiography of the problem of relations between city and enterprise in late Soviet society. The aim is to analyze the degree of study of the problem which is interdisciplinary in nature. The objectives are to identify the main historiographical fields in which the object of study is reflected, characterize the methodological basis of research, the sources involved, and the conclusions obtained. Russian and foreign historiography formed the focus of attention. The areas included: the history of business, historical urbanism, social history and its subdisciplines – «new working history» and the history of everyday life. The main methods were classification and comparison. Attention was focused not only on empirical research and case studies, but also on the main debatable and theoretical problems of historiography. Analysis of historiography is preceded by the general thesis on the need to consider the relationship between enterprise and city as a system «city – enterprise – person», in which the main actors are the state, organizations, subjects, all of whom are immersed in the institutional environment. The article concludes that late Soviet society is the least studied period when considering the problem of relations between the city and the enterprise. The choice of the designated optics of such a study will allow for a significant contribution to answering the question of the specificity of the phenomenon of what is perceived as «Soviet», as well as the reconstruction of the history of Soviet society simultaneously at several levels: in the sphere of socio-economic relations, urban everyday life and culture, as well as the political and ideological sphere

Аналіз української та зарубіжної історіографії нелегальних міграційних процесів під час Голодомору 1932–1933 років

Background. The topic of the border in today's conditions is gaining special interest. However, during the period of existence of the Polish-Soviet border (1921–1939), which was repeatedly exposed to the active activity of illegals and subversive intelligence groups, especially during the Holodomor of 1932–1933, the declared problem of studying illegal migration processes was particularly acute. The issue of the role of the border, its development and functional features in the period 1921–1939, on the one hand as a containment line, and on the other hand as an activator of international tension, requires detailed study and assessment. Methods. The analysis of the historiography of illegal migration processes, in particular during the Holodomor of 1932-1933, required the involvement of a number of principles, including the principle of objectivity, which, above all, makes it possible to avoid false statements, involvement or bias, as well as methods, in particular: historiographic analysis and historiographic synthesis, generalization, systematization. Results. The proposed article makes an attempt to analyze the Ukrainian and world historiography of illegal migration processes, on the "Riga border", during the Holodomor of 1932-1933. The study draws attention to the current achievements of the national historical bibliography, mainly from the period of the 1990s – 2010s. from the study of the limological and historical features of the "Zbruch Border", in particular during the Holodomor period of 1932-1933. Characteristic features of the scientific works of foreign scientists, in particular historians of the USA, the Republic of Poland, Austria and the Republic of France, are highlighted, as well as their methodological and factual features. The article is designed to acquaint readers with current trends in historical and limological research and microhistorical studies. Сonclusion. Based on the analysis of Ukrainian and foreign historiography of illegal migration processes during the Holodomor of 1932–1933, it not only provides an opportunity to understand the historical processes of the declared period, but also to follow the dynamics, features of crossing the border and its place in Polish-Soviet relations and the reflection of these relations on the processes , which took place on Ukrainian lands.

Зауральская кузница военных кадров России на стыке эпох: рефлексия историка. Рецензия на книгу: <i>Никулин Д. О. </i>Подготовка пополнения для действующей армии в запасных частях Омского военного округа в 1914-1917 гг.: монография. Новосибирск: Параллель, 2022. 292 с

The monograph under review presents a multifaceted reconstruction of the complex processes of formation, training and transfer of reinforcements for the front in the Omsk military district during the First World War and the 1917 revolution. Undoubtedly, the trans-Ural regions of the country made a significant contribution to the preparation and sending of reinforcements to the west, but so far this process itself has not been subjected to a thorough and systematic study. The monograph by D.O. Nikulin contains an attempt to solve this problem and comprehensively highlight the process of preparing and sending reinforcements for the army in the field. The author of the reviewed study showed a thorough acquaintance with both domestic and foreign historiography of the First World War. True, some of the works that D.O. Nikulin writes about are very distantly related to the specific problem that has become the subject of the researcher's direct study. The modernization approach was chosen as the methodological basis of the monograph. This made it possible to explain many features of the formation, the quality of training and the movement of replacements from Siberia to the front. However, it would be more clear in the course of deployment and presentation of certain plots to highlight the cause-and-effect relationship of modernization processes in the region with the specifics of certain areas of the life of the Omsk Military District, within which the preparation of reinforcements for the front was carried out. The source base of the study by D.O. Nikulin is distinguished by a significant volume and species diversity. The author involved documents of a legislative and office work nature, periodicals and sources of personal origin. The content of the book by D.O. Nikulin testifies to the thoughtful and painstaking work of the historian on an extensive complex of sources characterized by species diversity, as well as the works of his predecessors. As the analysis of the text of the monograph shows, the researcher, thanks to the use of modern scientific approaches and techniques, was able to identify the most significant features and characteristics of personnel training for the army in the Omsk military district during 1914-1917.

Борьба за Царицын в ходе Гражданской войны в России: к изданию коллективной монографии

The review of the monograph “The Civil War in Tsaritsyn: 1918–20” considers Volgograd historians-archivists’ views on the struggle between the Reds and the Whites in the South of Russia, resuming discussion on the role of J. V. Stalin in the organization of Tsaritsyn’s defense and of impact of the battles for the city on the overall development of military and political confrontation of the warring parties. The reviewer confirms the opinion of the authors that decreased significance of Tsaritsyn events of 1918–19 in the national historiography sprang from intention to diminish the merits of J. V. Stalin and his associates. Eventually, stubborn battles for the most important industrial and transport center and efforts to solve the food supply issues in the Soviet Republic turned into ordinary episodes of the history Civil War in Russia. The review emphasizes validity of the conclusions on the causes of successes and failures of the Red Army near Tsaritsyn: mood fluctuations of the Don Cossacks, contradictions between the Ataman of the Don Army P. N. Krasnov and the leaders of the Volunteer army, low discipline and manageability of military units defending the city. The materials of the monograph are consistent with the achievements of modern foreign historiography, which pays increasing attention to the episodes of the Civil War that made J. V. Stalin a politician and the leader of the Soviet state. The review substantiates the importance of the published book for analysis of food policy of the Bolshevik government, of significance of German aid for fighting efficiency of the Don Army, of socio-economic features of the region, which determined the balance of opposed forces. It underscores the relevance and information value of unique photographs and documents, found in the fonds of the central and local archives and published in the monograph. Visual sources provide an opportunity to consider the early stages of formation of historical memory of the events in the South of Russia in 1918–19. The reviewer expresses his opinion on the prospects of further research involving documents from the Russian State Military Archives (RGVA), which permit to identify the specifics of city life over years of martial law. The analysis of issues of wartime everyday life, of survival under during terror, military operations, and constant mobilization of resources can enhance the perception of the Civil War as a tragedy, contributing to national reconciliation in Russia.

About the Latest Russian Historiography of Soviet Ethno-National Politics: Plots, Problems, Ideas

The main attention is paid to the national historiography. The achievements of Russian historians are distinguished by an integrated approach, interdisciplinarity, professional analysis of unique sources, which makes it possible to reconstruct the process of implementing Soviet national policy in different ethnosocial environments, highlight similarities and differences on the example of individual national regions, provide a solid foundation for the creation of generalizing works and determining research prospects. In this regard, one of the controversial topics of modern historiography related to the interpretation of the concept of the “Soviet people” is also highlighted. The author notes that the early Soviet period is most intensively studied, when intensive nation-building took place and the image of the Soviet Federation took shape. The most important ideas of scientists are highlighted, which analyze the essence, nature and details of federal construction, the organization of the transit of the multicultural, initially complex society of the USSR from tradition to modernity, the development of interethnic relations, state policy in ethnosocial and ethno-cultural fields, the activities of national leaders, personnel policy in national republics, ethno-oriented practices in different periods of Soviet history. The author emphasizes the actual meaning of the Soviet historical experience of the functioning of a multi-component state and interethnic consolidation, including during the Great Patriotic War, in order to solve modern problems of strengthening the civil unity of Russian society. Due to the need for a critical analysis of the “decolonial” discourse of foreign historiography, the author considers the study of socio-economic relations and interaction of national- state and administrative-territorial units of the USSR to be very relevant, both among themselves and in the context of the organizing and coordinating role of all-Union institutions. Some ideas are proposed to expand the subject field and problematize a wide range of debatable issues.

Soviet Structural Aid to the Republic of Mali in 1960-1968

The article analyzes the phenomenon of the Soviet Union’s structural aid to African countries - technical and economic cooperation covering major sectors of the economy to ensure the self-sufficient development of recipient countries and weaken the neocolonial impact of the West. The case of bilateral relations between the USSR and Mali in 1960-1968 was chosen for a number of reasons - the strategic location of this African country, its place in the structure of French interests, the formats and volumes of Soviet aid, and, finally, rather weak coverage of the issue in Russian and foreign historiography. The authors preface the analysis of Soviet aid with an overview of the country’s economic situation in the 1960s and the difficulties faced by the Malian government in establishing an independent economic system through the introduction of its own currency, the Malian franc, and the nationalization of former French enterprises. The research is mostly based on the archival funds of the State Committee on Foreign Economic Relations of the Russian State Archive of Economy. The analysis of Soviet assistance is conducted in a wide range of areas, from industry and agriculture to health care and education. The final section examines the transport issue and the Soviet role in removal of the transport blockade imposed by Senegal. Both successful projects of Soviet-Malian cooperation, as the gold and bauxite exploration, the construction of a cement plant, and a sports stadium, and unrealized ideas are described. Among the most obvious problems that hindered cooperation between the USSR and Mali were the lack of financial resources, excessive caution, and Mali’s rather active cooperation with its neighbors and capitalist countries. Soviet aid to Mali allows us to trace the Soviet Union’s role in the real decolonization of African countries and the strengthening of their sovereignty. Unlike many other donors, who mostly limited their aid to certain projects, the USSR provided support within the framework of a full cycle of work in all sectors of the economy (resource extraction - construction of enterprises for processing resources - training of personnel to service enterprises - export of finished goods). Obviously, such a comprehensive approach had a truly favorable effect on the sovereignization of the Malian economy.

The Soviet Union’s Economic Relations with Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany: Political Factors and the Art of Diplomacy (1955–1964)

The author of this article carries out a comparative analysis of the trade and economic relations of the Soviet Union with Austria and the FRG from 1955 to 1964 (focusing on features of formation and development, contractual foundations, driving forces, and problems). At the same time, the emphasis of the research is on identifying the influence of the political factor of interstate relations on the development of economic cooperation. A comparative analysis of the history of the USSR’s trade and economic relations with Austria and Germany has not been carried out before. The history of the economic interaction of the Soviet Union with these contractors separately has not been sufficiently studied by historical science either. Regarding Austria, Russian and foreign historiography has traditionally focused on the State Treaty of 1955 and its economic component in the form of compensatory supplies. As for the FRG, this initial period has not been studied at all in national historical science, except for several essays. German historians have studied not so much the government’s economic course as the initiatives and activities of industry representatives united in the eastern committee of the German economy. The author employs the comparative-historical method of research and methods of economic science (to a limited extent) and statistical analysis (indicators of foreign trade, bilateral trade). The article aims to contribute to a more complete reconstruction of the wide range of East-West interactions during the Cold War by exploring such a convergent component for both systems as bilateral trade. The Austrian phenomenon of the successful development of trade relations with the USSR is viewed through the prism of a compromise solution to the Austrian question and its economic consequences in the form of fulfilment and reduction of compensatory deliveries. The author highlights the role of the political factor in foreign economic planning and its implementation by both the Soviet Union and its Western capitalist counterparts, neutral Austria, and Germany, which is part of NATO, determining the differences between the latter. If for the trade and economic relations between the USSR and Austria the political factor played a constructive role which brought the two countries closer, for relations with the FRG it was quite destructive, mostly because of the fault of the West German leadership. The article refers to documents of the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History and the Russian State Archive of Economics introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time and egodocuments.

100 лет СССР и 30 лет без СССР: уроки истории и современность (обзор)

This article is devoted to the centenary of the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, to the understanding of its history and development, primarily, in the sphere of interethnic relations and nation building, to the key periods of this process and its results, achievements and problems, as well as to the strengths and weaknesses of the Soviet historical project as an alternative way of world development. The paper presents a review and analysis of the main trends in Russian and foreign historiography on nation building in the USSR and Soviet ethnopolitical issues in the context of a general consideration of the Soviet historical and political project. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the reasons for the country’s collapse and discussions on this subject in Russian and foreign literature. Key versions as well as objective and subjective factors are considered, including the significance of the crisis phenomena and actions in the sphere of interethnic relations, the rise of nationalism, chauvinism and separatism, as well as the strengthening of centrifugal tendencies. Further, the paper describes the main consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union and its historical lessons, as well as the results of the development of post-Soviet states during the last thirty years. In addition, the author analyses Russian public opinion polls on the dissolution of the USSR. The article points out how the centenary of the Soviet Union can be used to enhance patriotism and form historical memory in the Russian citizens in the context of the country’s current efforts to gather the “Russian world” and promote the Russian language and culture globally.

Problems of Interaction between the Turkic Peoples of European Russia in the Coverage of Foreign Historiography

Problems of Interaction between the Turkic Peoples of European Russia in the Coverage of Foreign Historiography

Константинопольский патриархат и гражданские войны в Византии в середине XIV в. (к постановке проблемы)

Introduction. This work aims to highlight features of the relationship between Church and State in Byzantium in the period from 1341 to 1357, i.e. during the civil wars, through the systematization and typology of source material. Various types of sources are involved in the study. Its relevance is determined by the insufficient coverage of this aspect in domestic and foreign historiography. Methods and materials. The work uses a systematic approach, as well as a deep analysis of written sources. Analysis. Based on the analysis of written sources, we find out the degree of involvement of the patriarchs of Constantinople in the civil wars in the middle of the 14th century, which is defined as 1) the direct participation of the patriarchs in the civil wars; 2) the use of patriarchs for their own purposes by participants of these conflicts; and 3) the covert participation of patriarchs in the conflicts. Results. It turns out that the role that the church played in the political events of this period was quite high.

The policy of the Russian Empire in relation to Islam: modern foreign historiography

The article analyzes the views of foreign authors on Russia's confessional policy towards Islam. Most of the written works concerning confessional politics in the empire reflect new and urgent problems. In recent years, the spread of Islam in the Russian Empire and the religious aspects of its state policy towards Muslims have attracted the interest of many researchers. In the religious policy of the Russian Empire, the Orenburg Mohammedan Spiritual Assembly is of great importance. The article analyzes the opinions of a number of authors on this issue and their conclusions, as well as its impact on the Kazakh steppe. One of the characteristic features of the modern period of world history is a broad study based on the influence of the religious factor. In this context, foreign authors studying the religious policy of the Russian Empire, which includes a large number of Muslim peoples, consider the empire as a complex and multi-ethnic state. For foreign researchers, the empire is studied from the standpoint of the concept of a "confessional state" with the aim of interfering in world politics. American researchers, in particular, show the complex process of social regulation of various religious groups in the Russian Empire through religious institutions. Among them, it is necessary to study the performance of the Hajj, which is considered the most important duty of Muslims, along with the issue of education, socio-economic conditions also require special attention.   Key words: Russian Empire, confessional politics, Islam, Hajj, religion.

Interaction of kazakh and tatar cultures: historical and sociocultural analysis

One of the significant scientific directions in the history of Central Asia is the study of the relationship between Kazakhstan and other neighbouring regions. The level of development of relations between countries depends on the positive interaction of cultures. The rich history of human development includes many different vivid cultures with their own unique significance. Cultural evolution is based on a wide range of new worldview positions. The complexity and diversity of cultural systems is formed as a result of their changes based on interaction and transition to a higher quality level. One of the essential components in the study of this process is the awareness of the uniqueness of culture, understanding of the internal and external mechanisms of the social movement of society. The peoples inhabiting the territory of Central Asia have their own unique history; over the millennia, civilizations have formed and flourished here, which have undergone various transformations, experiencing periods of prosperity, decline and stagnation. The further development of this territory, of course, proceeded in the mainstream of world history, changes in the political and socio-economic sphere and the modernization of society entailed new challenges and required solutions and new cultural requests. The events that took place in the late 19th - early 20th centuries demanded the transformation of society, the search for new horizons of human being and consciousness. Over the centuries, the culture of the Kazakh people has also become an integral part of world history. The study of the culture of the traditional Kazakh society shows many aspects of its development were studied fragmentarily, ideological distortions were observed in pre-revolutionary Russian, Soviet and partly foreign historiography. At present, the possibility of studying the Kazakh traditional society with the involvement of new tools of the methodology makes it possible to identify significant aspects of its interaction with neighboring territories. So, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the city of Kazan became the focus of spiritual life and interaction of peoples living in the Volga region. Kazan as a scientific and cultural center has played a significant role in the history and culture of the Turkic-speaking peoples. The purpose of this study is to consider the interaction of the Kazakh and Tatar cultures and find out the features of the socio-cultural life of the traditional Kazakh society. The authors note that even in the conditions of the loss of statehood, the Kazakhs exchanged cultural experience with neighboring countries.