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Golden Horde Town (Uluses West of the Don). To a Question of the Appearance and Localization
Authors: Cherkas B.V.
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History of the Golden Horde towns represents one of the unique and still mysterious pages of history. First of all, this applies to the stationary settlements. Most of these settlements are known due to archaeological research. Consequently, it is difficult to determine, when it refers to the “town” or to the “village”. Chronologically, the Golden Horde settlements can be divided into two groups: those that existed before the Mongol conquest and were incorporated into the empire, and those that were built under the new Tatar government. The Mongol conquests were not aimed at the complete destruction of captured peoples. Like any other state, the Mongol Empire was in need of constant revenue for its existence. Therefore, during an invasion the Mongols destroyed towns guided only by political or military necessity. Accordingly, most of the settlements continued their existence. So actually, as a result of the conquest, the Chinggisid State contained a large number of towns and villages. Compared with settled regions, the steppe never was an urbanized area. But during the Golden Horde period, the steppe was covered with large quantity of human settlements that we call “towns”. There were two reasons for this phenomenon. Firstly, a natural component when life itself forced to build settlements. And secondly, the state policy aimed at establishing permanent settlements.
The first reason is based on such elements. It was the presence of a powerful branching Yam (postal) system that contributed to the formation of settlements along postal routes. There a traveler could change horses and rest, get water and food, repair trucks, etc. Thereby, construction of housing facilities for animals, stores, religious buildings, wells, craft workshops on these way stations was a matter of time. Second component was represented by natural environment and climate change. Many rivers flows along the Ukrainian steppe, including such large ones as the Danube, Dniester, Southern Bug, Dnieper, Siverskyi Donets. Accordingly, these rivers could be crossed in certain places only. That, in turn, made it necessary for the existence of settlements there. Also, deep snow in the Ukrainian steppe significantly impedes grazing, and during some winters it generally makes it impossible. This fact forced the nomads to establish stationary settlements and corresponding feed stocks. In the 14th century began a large-scale climatic cooling. This required from the steppe inhabitants as well to create safe shelters for a period of frost.
Second reason based on the management policy established by Chinggis Khan. He was first to found a city that became the center of authority. Threads of control across the state went out from them. Accordingly, the nobles followed the ruler’s example and established the regional centers of power as well.