Geissler, Social Hierarchy of the Nagai Tartars, 1800, Paper

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Title: "Social Hierarchy of the Nagai Tartars - An Etching by Geissler, ca. 1800" : This etching by Christian Gottfried … Read more Title: "Social Hierarchy of the Nagai Tartars - An Etching by Geissler, ca. 1800" : This etching by Christian Gottfried Heinrich Geissler, titled "Nagai Tartars," is a fine representation of the German School from around the year 1800. It portrays three figures, labeled to indicate their social standing: a woman of distinction, her daughter, and a female servant, numerically annotated as 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The detailed depiction captures the intricate attire and cultural fashion of the period, reflecting the societal structure and familial roles within the Nagai Tartar community. The women are adorned in traditional garments that signify their status and identity, while the setting suggests a backdrop typical of their environment, providing a glimpse into the life of the Tartar people at the turn of the 19th century. The Nagai or Nogai Tartars were part of the Nogai Horde, a confederation that occupied the Pontic–Caspian steppe from about 1500 until they were displaced in the 17th century by the Kalmyks and Russians. They were named after Nogai Khan, a Mongol ruler, and were divided into groups such as the Budjak and Yedisan in the area north of the Black Sea. The Nogais were known to be pastoral nomads who grazed sheep, horses, and camels and were also involved in trade, raiding, and tribute. They spoke a form of Kypchak Turkic and were Muslim, although their religious institutions were not strongly developed. The societal structure of the Nogais was quite fluid, with personal prestige playing a significant role in their political organization. They were historically known for their slave raids across Eastern Europe, which were an important part of their economy. The term "Tatar" broadly refers to Turkic-speaking peoples, mainly found in west-central Russia and other former Soviet Republics. It was originally used to refer to various nomadic groups from the vast Central and Northern Asian region then known as Tartary. The largest Tatar group is the Volga Tatar from the Volga region in Russia. There are several Tatar groups, including the Volga Tatars and the Crimean Tatars, with the latter being subdivided into groups such as the Tats and the Nogai. The Tatars have a rich history that dates back to the 5th century when nomadic tribes in northeastern Mongolia around Lake Baikal were first recognized. They became part of Genghis Khan's army in the 13th century and were known to Europeans as Tatars. Following the disintegration of the Mongol Empire, the Tatars were particularly associated with the western part of the empire, the Golden Horde, which included most of European Russia. Throughout the centuries, they have developed a complex social organization and were known for their craftsmanship and trading skills. The engraving "Nagai Tartars" is potentially from the English edition of Peter Simon Pallas's "Travels through the southern provinces of the Russian Empire," created around 1799-1801. It was produced by the German artist and printmaker Christian Gottfried Heinrich Geissler. See less