FEATURES OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND PLANNING STRUCTURE OF THE GOLDEN HORDE CITIES OF THE LOWER VOLGA REGION

Abstract

The Lower Volga region was the center of all trade routes, both economically and politically, until the collapse of the Golden Horde state. Starting from the 40-50s of the 13th century, in the Lower Volga region began the town-planning activities of the Golden Horde khans.  Since the cities of the Golden Horde arose not as a result of the long-term development of the settlement network, but with the support of the rule of the Golden Horde khans, the historical features of the cities include the absence of a traceable transition process from settlements to cities. In addition, some “typical” criteria for determining the urban character of a monument, for example the presence of fortifications, do not apply to the cities of the Golden Horde. In many cities of the Golden Horde, even very large ones, fortifications were not found until the civil strife of the 60-70s of the 14th century. The spread of Islam in the Golden Horde Volga region from the beginning of the 14th century influenced the development of Golden Horde architecture and decoration. The ornamental style of the architectural and planning structure of the Golden Horde cities of the lower Volga region was primarily under the strong influence of the masters of Central Asia, Transcaucasia and Iran.