Tatars of Inner Asia in the 8th–12th centuries: Some Issues of Historical Geography

Abstract

Research objectives: This article discusses issues related to the historical geography of the carriers of the Tatar ethnonym in Inner Asia from the eighth to the twelfth century. The focus of this article is devoted to the analysis of toponymy mentioned in historical sources in connection with Tatars. Research materials: Monuments of the ancient Turkic runic script, containing a reli­able mention of the Tatar ethnonym, as well as Chinese historical texts were used in this study as the main sources. The Mongolian “Secret History of the Mongols” of the thirteenth century and Rashīd al-Dīn al-Ṭabīb’s “Jāmī al-Tawārīkh” of the early fourteenth century were used for the interpretation of certain events. The authors inevitably turned to the linguistic data provided by the fund, primarily, of the Turkic and Mongolian languages, in the process of considering particular issues. Results and novelty of the research: The article discusses eleven place names, connected in one way or another with the mention of Tatars. The authors managed to find and justify an adequate interpretation for seven of these names and propose two completely new identifications. Of particular novelty, according to the authors, we now have every reason to acknowledge the mention of the Kerulen (Mong. Kherlen) River in reference to the Tatars in the monuments of the ancient Turkic runic script.

Keywords

• tatars
• inner asia
• nomadic peoples
• historical geography
• ethnonymy