Northern Donbass in the economic and political system of the Russian state in the XVI–XVII centuries: yurts, watchmen, cities in the Field

Abstract

This article is devoted to the topic of the Middle Podontsovye territory development during the period of strengthening of the political and economic influence of Russia in this region. The period is characterized by the transition from a semi-nomadic and nomadic economic life to the complete settledness of the local population (XVI–XVII centuries). The article touches upon the question of the yurts` role in this process. A comparison of using this term in Russia among the Don Cossacks and among the Tatars is made. The meaning of this concept was generally similar in the Turkic understanding and in the southern Russian outskirts and the Don Cossacks` perception. The coverage of the Donetsk region territory by the guard service of the Russian state contributed to the acceleration of the region economic development by the population of the southern Russian outskirts. Tsarev-Borisov became the first Russian city built on the territory of the Middle Podontsovye. With its construction, the entire Middle Podontsovye was included in the administrative system of Russia. After the burning of the city, the owner of the yurts was the Svyatogorsk Monastery, then the newly built Russian cities – Tor, Mayatsky, Tsarev-Borisov of the second settlement. Later, rural settlements appeared at the locations of the yurts and there was a transition from the yurt way of life to the agricultural one. It is concluded that yurts, as a form of economic development of the Field, preceded Russian agricultural colonization. At the same time, yurt was an administrative unit that was intended for colonization, including unpopulated areas into the administrative system of the.