Tribal relations of the Kyrgyz and Altai peoples according to ethnological data

Abstract

The article analyzes the tribal structure of the Kyrgyz and Altai peoples. Based on the works of well-known researchers in the field of ethnology, the author focuses on the ethnogenetic ties between the Kyrgyz and the Altaians, primarily with the southern Altaians. The paper reveals the author's view on the problem of ethnic ties of these communities, which has been studied with involvement of field materials. The author gives an interpretation of certain tribal and clan names among the Kyrgyz and Altaians and shows their similarity which reflects the ancient ethnogenetic ties. The reasons for the identical names were the migration of the Kyrgyz to the west in the Middle Ages, their settlement in the territories of the Mongolian Altai mountains and the source of the Irtysh River valley. The collected data show that medieval nomadic tribes living in the Altai Region and the Irtysh Region participated in the formation of two ethnic groups. The conclusions obtained as a result of the study complement the picture of the Kyrgyz-Altai relations.

Keywords

• kyrgyz
• tien shan
• irtysh
• altaians
• tribe
• genus
• ethnogenetic connection
• ethnos