The role of the Russian state in the formation and development of international trade with the countries of the Muslim East along the medieval North-South transit corridor

Research reveals that the Russian state played a pivotal role in establishing and controlling international trade along the medieval North-South transit corridor, particularly through the Volga-Caspian route. This control was solidified after the collapse of the Golden Horde (1502) and the conquest of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates by Ivan the Terrible, enabling Moscow to dominate this critical trade artery. The study highlights how Astrakhan, founded in 1558, became a major trading hub attracting merchants from Persia, Shamakhi, Bukhara, Khiva, and other Eastern cities, generating substantial revenue for the Russian treasury. The research, based on Arabic, English, Russian, and local sources alongside archaeological data, employs historicism, objectivity, and an interdisciplinary approach to analyze trade routes, economic centers, and goods such as furs from the 'Russian North,' which were highly valued in Eastern markets.

Kudryavtsev, A. A. (2026). The role of the Russian state in the formation and development of international trade with the countries of the Muslim East along the medieval North-South transit corridor. Гуманитарные И Юридические Исследования, 13(2), 253–260. https://doi.org/10.37493/2409-1030.2026.2.9