The view of the golden mountains

The Altai Mountains, spanning Central Asia and holding deep cultural significance in Russian history, have been shown to possess a near mythological presence despite their peripheral location. This study contributes to the emerging field of 'new spatial history' by examining how the Altai has been mentally mapped in Russian culture, with early references dating back to the 1240s in texts like The Secret History of the Mongols. The research highlights the centrality of geographical space and spatial thinking in Russian history, focusing on the northern part of the range inhabited by Turkic-speaking Naimans and Merkits, whose defeat by Chinggis Khan's armies marked a period of relative peace on the Qing dynasty's northwestern frontier. By synthesizing historical texts and cultural representations, this work offers a comprehensive overview of the Altai's multifaceted role in Russian spatial imagination.

Kudachinova, C. (2020). The view of the golden mountains. Russia in Asia, 28–48. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429341298-2