«Crimean art»: about little-known aspects of raids of the Crimean Tatars and Nogays

Abstract

Crimean Tatar`s attacks on Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Circassian, Moldavian lands, conducted with different intensity over three centuries, have rendered great influence on the history of Eastern Europe. Raids were caused by different causes: economic, ideological and political. While the role of economic factors were traditionally exaggerated by the historians. Attacks on nearby countries were an important component of the internal life of the Crimean Khanate, participation in them was a source of pride, a way of enrichment, and an increase in their status in society. Despite of the destructive effects, the invasions of the Crimean and Nogai cavalry for the population of the region, it would be wrong to represent the raids only as monotonous looting. Thanks to numerous sources it is known that during the raids, people could save themselves, not only by fleeing or self-defense, but also cooperating with the attackers. Crimean Khans and their victims were above all living people. This led to a variety of situations in which the victims could be saved thanks to their own resourcefulness and interpersonal skills. The Crimean Tatars have applied various methods of treatment of a hostile population. In addition to the prevailing type of relationship (violence), the Crimeans treated humanely some people (primarily women), including those captured.

Keywords

• eastern europe
• collaborationism
• crimean tatars
• crimean khanate
• raids
• slavery