Эпоха «Черной смерти» в Золотой Орде и прилегающих регионах (конец XIII – первая половина XV вв.)

Timur F. Khaidarov

Age of "Black Death" in Golden Horde and adjacent regions (end of XIII — first half of XV centuries): monograph

This work is devoted to one of the important for Russian history themes — history of "Black Death" (second plague pandemic), complex disease, that was waving through the territory of the Golden Horde and adjacent regions in the end of XIII — first half of XV centuries. For a long time Russian and Western experts were developing this theme. Concerning this fact, this research is focused at evolution of opinions, represented in Russian and Western historiography. Truly, until the last ten years period opinions about this historical event were influenced by scientific views and myths about plague's epidemiology of Middle Ages. In addition, there are many unproved scientific myths, related to this theme. At the same time historical canvas if this event was outside of scientific researches. Probably, this situation is caused by the absence of complete research that could determinate factors and root causes of the disease. As a result, creation of complex historical work about this theme became possible only after research of genome of plague and climatic fluctuations was complete. New data allowed us to answer the hardest and ambiguous theoretical questions, viewed in this monograph. From the other side, author analyzed wide number of Old Russian, Lithuanian, Arab-Muslim, Byzantine, Persian and Latin sources, and it allowed to formulate important thoughts about historical significance of second plague pandemic. Author concluded, that during designated period, epidemic had an enormous influence at socio-political process, taking place in Golden Horde, Russia and Europe. In fact, author thinks that it is true to say about the end of XIII — first half of XV centuries that it was an age of "Black Death".