International Symposium "The Golden Horde as a Model of Steppe Civilization: History, Archaeology, Culture, and Identity"

The International Symposium "The Golden Horde as a Model of Steppe Civilization: History, Archaeology, Culture, and Identity" in Astana has become one of the most significant humanitarian events of the year for the entire Turkic and Eurasian space. This large-scale forum, organized with the support of UNESCO, brought together over 300 leading medievalists and Orientalists from 23 countries. The participants provided a detailed analysis of the state structure, culture, and identity of the nomadic empire, recognizing Kazakhstan as the key legal successor to this historical heritage. In his address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that "the chronicle of the Golden Horde is a shared history of mankind," noting the need for an objective reappraisal of the heritage of the Great Steppe, free from politicized stereotypes.

The high status of the event was reaffirmed by international experts and heads of global scientific and cultural institutions, whose assessments went far beyond the scope of dry academic reports.

In addition to the conceptual significance of the Horde phenomenon itself, foreign delegates highly praised the organization of the forum. Professors and heads of academies of sciences from various countries agreed that Astana succeeded in creating a dialogue platform unprecedented in its scale. Experts particularly highlighted the flawless organization of the panel sessions and the openness with which Kazakhstan promotes shared history on the international scientific agenda.

The two days of work culminated in the adoption of a resolution in which the participants officially expressed their gratitude to the host country for the magnificent hospitality and consolidated a commitment to elevating Golden Horde studies to a qualitatively new international level.

To a large extent, the strong impression left on the foreign guests was the result of the well-coordinated internal work of the organizing team. The Department of Foreign Languages of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) also contributed to creating a comfortable and open atmosphere. Faculty members served as professional guides and linguistic curators for the high-ranking guests. Thanks to their accompaniment, deep understanding of cross-cultural communication, and coordination throughout the stages of the forum, international delegates were able to experience genuine Kazakh hospitality.

Gratitude and high praise for the organization were expressed by:

A. Ramazanov, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Bashkortostan;

Ilyas Kemaloğlu, Professor and Director of the Institute of Turkic Studies at Marmara University;

A. Ayupov, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

Kubilay Atik, Head of the Department of Medieval Studies at Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University;

Lindsay Stephen Pow, Research Associate at the University of Calgary (Canada), and others;

Khairunissa Alan – Professor of Istanbul Medeniet University

Today, such forums are particularly vital because they restore the true, global scale to the history of the Great Steppe. The symposium in Astana demonstrated that interest in the heritage of the Golden Horde has long ceased to be a merely regional topic and is becoming an integral part of the global scientific and cultural dialogue.