Sart Kalmyks of Przhevalsky Uyezd (Semirechenskaya Oblast) in the Early 20th Century

Introduction. Economic conditions to have experienced by the Issyk-Kul Sart Kalmyks of Semirechenskaya Oblast in the early 20th century remain uninvestigated in historical literature, which makes the study relevant enough. Goals. The work aims to consider the traditional Sart Kalmyk system of farming, define its type, and analyze the transition to settled life. Materials and methods. The study employs both general scientific and specific historical research methods, including that of statistical analysis. The work examines materials from Russia’s central archives, as well as statistical survey data on economic and land use practices of the Kyrgyz — including households of Sart Kalmyks — and Russian old-timers collected in Przhevalsky Uyezd (Semirechenskaya Oblast) under the guidance of P. P. Rumyantsev in 1913. Analysis of statistical materials yields a reconstruction of the Sart Kalmyk economy in the early 20th century and determines its type. Results. The Sart Kalmyks to have inhabited several localities around Karakol in Issyk-Kul (Przhevalsky) Uyezd were engaged in livestock breeding and, in part, crop farming, i.e. were following their traditional economic practices. Conclusions. However, by the beginning of the 20th century the Sart Kalmyks no longer possessed sufficient pastures and livestock to specialize in breeding only, and were forced to tackle arable farming too, though the latter played no crucial role in their economy remaining an auxiliary sector. The lack of arable land and hayfields forced the Sart Kalmyks to engage in additional occupational activities. So, the population was characterized by a semi-sedentary type of farming, i.e. the period witnessed a change in the Sart Kalmyks’ economic system proper and respective conditions at large.

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