International Symposium on the Heritage of the Golden Horde Opens in Astana Under Kazakhstan President’s Patronage

Today, 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 Head of State 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 Kazakhstani and foreign scholars, experts, and representatives of the international academic community for a comprehensive understanding of the historical heritage 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 the heritage of the Golden Horde, as well as to demonstrate the country’s scientific potential in the field of Central Eurasian civilization studies through a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis of the political, economic, cultural, and spiritual heritage of the Ulus of Jochi and the assessment of its significance for contemporary integration processes in Eurasia.
 
As part of the symposium, a thematic exhibition dedicated to the heritage of the Golden Horde as a model of steppe civilization is also being presented. The exhibition features archaeological, written, and cultural artifacts.
 
The exhibition structure covers 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 devoted 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, a special place is occupied by the handwritten scroll “Shezhire of the Khans,” containing genealogical information about rulers and historical figures of the era. The exhibition also features the Catalan Atlas, genealogical trees of the khans, coins, written sources, and everyday household items. The written heritage includes 3 decrees, 4 diplomatic letters, and 21 manuscripts presented in original form, facsimile copies, and electronic versions.
 
The exhibition has been formed on the basis of materials from significant archaeological monuments of Kazakhstan, including the ancient cities of Saraishyk, Syganak, Barshinkent, and other historically important sites located within the country. The exhibition aims to promote the historical and cultural heritage of the Golden Horde and expand scholarly interest in its study.
 
The plenary session was moderated by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek. Representatives of the UNESCO Secretariat, diplomatic missions of CIS, SCO, CSTO, and OTS member states, as well as ambassadors of Russia, China, Türkiye, Iran, Mongolia, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and a number of other countries attended the opening ceremony.
 
The forum brought together more than 300 scholars and experts, including 120 foreign researchers from over 20 countries worldwide. Participants include medieval historians, archaeologists, orientalists, Turkologists, Mongolists, numismatists, epigraphy specialists, political scientists, cultural experts, art historians, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations.
 
Speaking at the plenary session, Sayasat Nurbek noted that the International Symposium dedicated to the heritage of the Golden Horde holds strategic importance for the development of historical science and the reinterpretation of the historical past.
 
 “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 emphasized.
 
According to him, the Golden Horde represented a unique model of Eurasian integration that ensured interaction between East and West, as well as the exchange of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices, while its history reflects the synthesis of steppe and sedentary civilizations.
 
“For Kazakhstan, the study of 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 UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture ad interim and Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou, 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 Research on the Golden Horde and Tatar Khanates at the Sh. Marjani Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan Ilnur Mirgaliev.
 
Particular attention during the symposium is devoted to issues of the ethnopolitical history of the Golden Horde, the contemporary significance of its heritage, prospects for further research, material and spiritual cultural heritage, written and oral sources, as well as civilizational interaction along the Great Silk Road.
 
The forum also envisages specialized scientific sessions dedicated to interdisciplinary research on 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 developing international scientific cooperation, consolidating research initiatives, and strengthening interaction among scientific centers and expert communities from different countries.
 
The cultural program of the symposium includes the concert “Heritage of the Great Steppe,” reflecting the richness of the historical and cultural heritage of the Great Steppe and the continuity of the spiritual traditions of the Eurasian space.
 
The holding of the International Symposium in Kazakhstan contributes to further strengthening the country’s international standing as one of the leading centers for the study of the history and heritage of Central Asia, expanding scientific dialogue, and promoting an objective study of historical processes that played a significant role in shaping Eurasian civilization.