URAL COSSACKS OF KARAKALPAKSTAN: HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE PROBLEM

Аннотация

This article is devoted to the historiographical analysis of the study of the Ural Cossacks who lived in the territory of present-day Karakalpakstan. The authors examine the main stages in the development of the historiography on this issue – the colonial, Soviet, and post-Soviet periods – identifying the specific features and methodological approaches characteristic of each era. Special attention is given to the analysis of scholarly works and memoir sources that reflect diverse perspectives on the nature of the Cossack presence in the Aral Sea region, including its political, economic, and cultural dimensions. The article reveals both gaps and contradictions in existing research, offering potential directions for further scholarly investigation. In addition, the authors address issues related to the source base, ethnopolitical interpretations, and the influence of ideological factors on the representation of this topic in the historiography of various periods. The findings of the study suggest that the Ural Cossacks of Karakalpakstan remain an insufficiently explored phenomenon in both domestic and international historical scholarship. This work may be of interest to historians, ethnologists, and all researchers engaged in the study of Central Asian history and Cossack heritage.