The Archaeology of Volga Bulgaria in the 10th to Early 13th Centuries

Erscheinungsjahr 2024
ISBN: 978-90-04-54984-5
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 95, 356 Seiten, Format (B × H): 158 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 871 g

Reihe: East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450

This book focuses on Volga Bulgaria (10th to early 13th centuries), the only Muslim state in Eastern Europe before 1300. For several centuries, it operated as a bridge between the Christian West and the Muslim East. As such, it is widely believed that the colossal transit of oriental silver coin through the state was the foundation of the Bulgar economy while Islam consolidated statehood in the Middle Volga region.
Drawing on the rich archaeological record, Konstantin Rudenko argues against this view, demonstrating that the Bulgar culture was instead formed on the basis of its own resources. The Bulgars thus represent a unique example of relatively rapid change from nomadism to sedentism and urbanization, with no significant influence from neighboring, developed states. Cultural syncretism therefore emerged as a key characteristic of Volga Bulgaria.

Autoren/Hrsg.

A Rudenko, Konstantin

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Mittelalterliche, neuzeitliche Archäologie (Europa)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgements

List of Illustrations

Introduction

1 The Historiography of the Origin of the Volga Bulgars; Pre-Bulgar Period and the Arrival of the Bulgars in the Volga Region

1 The Main Hypotheses of the Origin of the Volga Bulgars and Their Culture

2 The Pre-Bulgar Period and Arrival of the Bulgars in the Middle Volga Region

3 From Nomadic Life to Sedentism

2 Volga Bulgaria: Its Territory and Settlements

1 The Natural Landscape, Territory, and Raw Resources of the Bulgar State in the 11th–Early 13th Centuries

2 Hillforts

3 Early Settlements

4 Settlement Agglomerations

3 Burial Sites and Population Characteristics

1 Burial Sites

2 Anthropological Characteristics of the Volga Bulgars of the 8th–Early 13th Centuries

3 Diet of the Bulgars

4 Material Culture

1 House-Building: Residential and Household, Improvement of the Settlements

2 Monumental Architecture

3 Pottery Industry

4 Iron Metallurgy and Blacksmithing

5 Processing of Non-ferrous Metals and Jewelry Art

6 Processing of Bone and Horn; Other Trades

Conclusions

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Konstantin A. Rudenko, Doctor of Historical Sciences (2004), Udmurt State University, is Professor of Archaeology at Kazan State Institute of Culture. He has published monographs, catalogs, and numerous articles on the material culture of Volga Bulgaria, including The History of the Archaeological Study of Volga Bulgaria (2014) and The Bulgar Silver (2015).