Russia's Steppe Frontier: The Making Of A Colonial Empire, 1500-1800 (Indiana-Michigan Series in Russian and East European Studies)

Khodarkovsky seeks to answer two central questions: 1) How did Moscow succeed in transforming the southern frontier into a part of the Russian Empire, and the steppe people into imperial subjects 2) What impact did the rapidly changing fortunes of various steppe confederations have on Russia--its ideologies, policies and institutions? Machine Generated Contents Note: [1] The Sociology Of The Frontier, Or Why Peace Was -- Impossible / 7 -- Social And Political Organization In The Steppe -- Raiding And Warfare -- Captives And Slaves -- Trade And Economy -- A Khan, Or A Search For Central Authority -- Religion -- Ideology Through Diplomacy -- [2] Frontier Concepts And Policies In Muscovy / 46 -- The Frontier -- Shert': A Peace Treaty Or An Oath Of Allegiance? -- Amanat: Hostages Of Sorts -- Yasak: Tribute Or Trade? -- Presents And Payments: Bestowed Or Extorted? -- Translating Or Colonizing? -- [3] Taming The Wild Steppe, 1480-1600s / 76 -- Moscow And The Great Horde: The Ugra Standoff -- Reconsidered -- The End Of The Golden Horde, 1481-1502: On To Kazan -- The End Of The Crimean-muscovite Alliance -- The Nogays And Kazan, 1530s-1550s: Kazan Annexed -- The Nogays And Astrakhan, 1550s -- The Astrakhan Campaign Of 1569 -- Containing The Nogays, 1577-1582 -- Debilitating The Nogays, 1582-1600 -- [4] From Steppe Frontier To Imperial Borderlands, 1600-1800 / 126 -- The Nogays -- New Strategies -- The Kalmyks -- The Kazakhs -- [5] Concepts And Policies In The Imperial Borderlands, -- 1690s-1800 / 184 -- Representations -- Non-christians Into Russian Orthodox -- Migration Of The Native Elite And Commoners -- Colonial Contest I: Law And Administration -- Colonial Contest Ii: Land -- Conclusion / 221 -- Glossary / 230 -- List Of Abbreviations / 233 -- Notes / 235 -- Bibliography / 269 -- Index / 283. Michael Khodarkovsky. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [269]-281) And Index.

"Khodarkovsky provides a detailed chronological narrative of Russia's steppe relations, which conveys brilliantly the depth of Moscow's engagement in the world of steppe politics.... This is counterbalanced by insightful thematic discussion of the perennial issues involved.... Altogether, an excellent study of a vital dimension of Russia's historical evolution." — Slavonic and East European Review

"... the first connected account of Moscow's assertion of military and political control over its steppe frontier. The book's scope is impressive, as it traces the transformation of a turbulent steppe frontier into an imperial borderland.... a signal contribution to our understanding of European history." — American Historical Review

Drawing on sources and archival materials in Russian and Turkic languages, Russia's Steppe Frontier presents a complex picture of the encounter between indigenous peoples and the Russians. An original and invaluable resource for understanding Russia's imperial experience.

"Khodarkovsky provides a detailed chronological narrative of Russia's steppe relations, which conveys brilliantly the depth of Moscow's engagement in the world of steppe politics. . . . This is counterbalanced by insightful thematic discussion of the perennial issues involved. . . . Altogether, an excellent study of a vital dimension of Russia's historical evolution." Slavonic and East European Review ". . . the first connected account of Moscow's assertion of military and political control over its steppe frontier. The book's scope is impressive, as it traces the transformation of a turbulent steppe frontier into an imperial borderland. . . . a signal contribution to our understanding of European history." American Historical Review Drawing on sources and archival materials in Russian and Turkic languages, Russia's Steppe Frontier presents a complex picture of the encounter between indigenous peoples and the Russians. An original and invaluable resource for understanding Russia's imperial experience. This study of Russia's colonial expansion across the Eurasian steppe is “a tremendously important contribution to the field of Russian history” (Valerie Kivelson).From the decline of the Mongol Golden Horde to the end of the 18th century, the Russian government expanded its influence and power throughout its southern borderlands. The process of incorporating these lands and peoples into the Russian Empire was not only a military and political struggle but also a cultural contest between the indigenous worlds of the steppe and Russian imperial hegemony. Drawing on sources and archival materials in Russian and Turkic languages, Michael Khodarkovsky presents a complex picture of the encounter between the Russian authorities and native peoples. A major contribution to the comparative study of empires and frontiers, “no other work treats Moscow's colonial expansion to the south and east so competently” (Russia). "Drawing on sources and archival materials in Russian and Turkic languages, Russia's Steppe Frontier presents a complex picture of the encounter between indigenous peoples and the Russians. The book is a resource for understanding Russia's imperial experience."--Jacket "Drawing on sources and archival materials in Russian and Turkic languages, Russia's steppe frontier presents a complex picture of the encounter between indigenous peoples and the Russians." --book cover