On May 19 the opening ceremony of the International Symposium “The Golden Horde as a Model of Steppe Civilization: History, Archaeology, Culture, and Identity” was held in Astana with the participation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The large-scale international forum, taking place on May 19–20 under the auspices of UNESCO, has brought together leading domestic and international scholars, experts, and representatives of the global academic community to comprehensively examine the historical legacy of the Ulus of Jochi and its role in shaping civilizational processes across Central Eurasia.

The symposium aims to position the Republic of Kazakhstan as a leading international center for the study of Golden Horde heritage, while also demonstrating the country’s academic potential in the field of Central Eurasian civilization studies through a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis of the political, economic, cultural, and spiritual legacy of the Ulus of Jochi and its significance for contemporary integration processes in Eurasia.

As part of the symposium, a thematic exhibition dedicated to the Golden Horde heritage as a model of steppe civilization has also been presented. The exhibition features archaeological, written, and cultural artifacts.

The exhibition is structured around key thematic sections, including statehood and governance, steppe fashion and clothing, military affairs, interaction between steppe and urban civilizations, culture, science, and art. Particular attention is given to an interactive map featuring 70 archaeological and architectural monuments, 17 of which are presented with detailed descriptions, aerial photographs, and 3D visualizations.

Among the central exhibits is the manuscript scroll “Shezhire of the Khans,” containing genealogical information about rulers and historical figures of the era. Other exhibits include the Catalan Atlas, genealogical trees of khans, coins, written sources, and everyday household items. The written heritage section includes three decrees, four diplomatic letters, and 21 manuscripts presented in original, facsimile, and digital formats.

The exhibition is based on materials from significant archaeological sites in Kazakhstan, including the ancient cities of Saraishyk, Syganak, Barshynkent, and other historically important sites located within the country. The exhibition is intended to promote the historical and cultural heritage of the Golden Horde and expand scholarly interest in its study.

The plenary session was moderated by Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Representatives of the UNESCO Secretariat, diplomatic missions of CIS, SCO, CSTO, and OTS member states, as well as ambassadors from Russia, China, Türkiye, Iran, Mongolia, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and several other countries attended the opening ceremony.

The forum brought together more than 300 scholars and experts, including 120 international researchers from over 20 countries. Participants include medieval historians, archaeologists, Orientalists, Turkologists, Mongolists, numismatists, epigraphy specialists, political scientists, cultural scholars, art historians, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations.

Speaking at the plenary session, Sayasat Nurbek emphasized that the International Symposium dedicated to the legacy of the Golden Horde holds strategic importance for the development of historical science and the reinterpretation of historical memory.

“Today, we are discussing not only the past, but also the foundations for understanding statehood, identity, and Kazakhstan’s place in the history of Eurasia. In the context of the modern reassessment of history, the Golden Horde acquires particular significance as a crucial stage in the formation of the political and cultural traditions of the Great Steppe,” the Minister stated.

According to him, the Golden Horde represented a unique model of Eurasian integration that facilitated interaction between East and West, enabling the exchange of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices, while its history reflects the synthesis of steppe and sedentary civilizations.

“For Kazakhstan, studying the Golden Horde is not merely an academic task. It is a matter of historical continuity. Kazakhstan considers itself one of the heirs of the Ulus of Jochi, where the foundations of statehood and ethnogenesis were formed and later continued in the Kazakh Khanate,” Sayasat Nurbek noted.

Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Ernesto Ottone, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO and Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Eloundou Assomo Lazar, State Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic Arslan Koichiev, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan Irada Ayupova, President of the La France s’engage Foundation Audrey Azoulay, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences Sodnomsambuu Demberel, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Ayupov, and Head of the M.A. Usmanov Center for Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates Studies at the Sh. Marjani Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan Ilnur Mirgaleev.

During the symposium, particular attention is being paid to the ethnopolitical history of the Golden Horde, the contemporary relevance of its legacy, prospects for further research, material and spiritual cultural heritage, written and oral sources, as well as civilizational interactions along the Great Silk Road.

The forum program also includes specialized academic panels dedicated to interdisciplinary studies of the historical and cultural heritage of the Golden Horde, archaeological discoveries, and issues related to the formation of historical memory and identity.

One of the key outcomes of the international forum was the adoption of the Astana Declaration on the Heritage of the Golden Horde, aimed at promoting international scientific cooperation, consolidating research initiatives, and strengthening collaboration among research centers and expert communities from different countries.

The cultural program of the symposium includes the concert “Uly Dala Murasy” (“Heritage of the Great Steppe”), reflecting the richness of the historical and cultural legacy of the Great Steppe and the continuity of the spiritual traditions of the Eurasian space.

Hosting the International Symposium in Kazakhstan contributes to further strengthening the country’s international reputation as one of the leading centers for the study of the history and heritage of Central Asia, expanding academic dialogue, and promoting objective research into historical processes that played a significant role in shaping Eurasian civilization.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-tbilisi/press/news/details/1225619?lang=ru