International Symposium on the Heritage of the Golden Horde Opens in Astana with the Participation of the President of Kazakhstan

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 President 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 to comprehensively examine the historical legacy 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 Golden Horde’s heritage and to demonstrate the country’s scientific potential in the field of Central Eurasian civilization studies through an interdisciplinary analysis of the political, economic, cultural, and spiritual legacy of the Ulus of Jochi and its significance for contemporary integration processes in Eurasia.

As part of the symposium, a thematic exhibition dedicated to the Golden Horde’s heritage as a model of steppe civilization has also been presented. The exhibition features archaeological, written, and cultural artifacts.

The exhibition is structured around key thematic sections, including statehood and governance, steppe fashion and clothing, military affairs, the interaction between steppe and urban civilizations, culture, science, and art. Particular attention is drawn 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 is the manuscript scroll “Shezhire of the Khans,” containing genealogical information about rulers and prominent historical figures of the era. Also on display are the Catalan Atlas, genealogical charts of the khans, coins, written sources, and everyday objects. The written heritage section includes three decrees, four diplomatic letters, and twenty-one manuscripts presented in original, facsimile, and digital formats.

The exhibition is based on materials from major archaeological sites in Kazakhstan, including the ancient cities of Saraishyk, Syganak, and Barshynkent, as well as other historically significant sites located within the country. The exhibition is intended to promote the historical and cultural heritage of the Golden Horde and to 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. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the UNESCO Secretariat, diplomatic missions of member states of the CIS, SCO, CSTO, and the Organization of Turkic 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.

The forum brought together more than 300 scholars and experts, including 120 foreign researchers from over 20 countries. Participants include medieval historians, archaeologists, Orientalists, Turkologists, Mongolists, numismatists, epigraphists, political scientists, cultural scholars, art historians, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations.

In his remarks at the plenary session, Sayasat Nurbek emphasized that the International Symposium dedicated to the heritage of the Golden Horde holds strategic importance for the development of historical scholarship and the re-evaluation of the 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 contemporary historical reassessment, the Golden Horde acquires particular significance as one of the most important stages in the formation of the political and cultural traditions of the Great Steppe,” the Minister stated.

According to him, the Golden Horde represented a unique model of Eurasian integration that facilitated interaction between East and West, enabling the exchange of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices, while its history reflects a synthesis of steppe and sedentary civilizations.

“For Kazakhstan, the study of the Golden Horde is not merely an academic endeavor. It is a matter of historical continuity. Kazakhstan regards itself as one of the heirs of the Ulus of Jochi, where the foundations of statehood and ethnogenesis were laid and later continued in the Kazakh Khanate,” Sayasat Nurbek noted.

Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Eloundou Lázare, Acting Assistant Director-General for Culture and Director of the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO; Arslan Koichiev, State Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic; Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan; Audrey Azoulay, President of the “La France s’engage” Foundation; Sodnomsambuu Demberel, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences; Shavkat Ayupov, President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan; and Ilnur Mirgaliev, 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.

The symposium focuses on the ethno-political history of the Golden Horde, the contemporary significance of its legacy, prospects for further research, material and spiritual cultural heritage, written and oral sources, and civilizational interactions along the Great Silk Road.

Specialized academic panels are planned as part of the forum, 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 advancing international scientific cooperation, consolidating research initiatives, and strengthening collaboration among academic centers and expert communities from different countries.

The cultural program of the symposium includes the concert “Uly Dala Murasy” (“Heritage of the Great Steppe”), reflecting the richness of the historical and cultural legacy of the Great Steppe and the continuity of spiritual traditions across Eurasia.

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 scholarly dialogue, and promoting objective research into the historical processes that played a significant role in the formation of Eurasian civilization.