«Зубдат әл-Фикра» еңбегі 1250 жылдардағы Хулагу Елханның өмірін зерттеудің дереккөзі ретінде

Abstract

Zubdat al-Fikra is one of the most significant Eastern written sources reflecting the political processes in the Middle East and Central Asia in the second half of the 13th century. This work provides a comprehensive basis for studying political and military interactions, as well as cultural connections, between the Ilkhanate, the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, the Sultanate of Rum, and the Ulus of Jochi. A distinctive feature of this source is its chronologically structured narrative and the presence of an authorial interpretation, which allows it to be regarded as a reliable source base for the study of 13th-century history. The article systematically analyzes the information contained in the source regarding the life and political activity of Hulagu Khan in the 1250s. In particular, it examines the process of his rise to power, the strategic directions of state-building, the geography of military campaigns, and their tactical characteristics. In addition, the nature and specific features of his political and military relations with the Ulus of Jochi, the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, and the Sultanate of Rum are analyzed. The study takes into account the narrative features of the source and the influence of the author’s perspective, which makes it possible to identify the interpretative dimensions of the historical text. The data from Zubdat al-Fikra are compared with other written sources, allowing for the identification of their content-specific features and source value. This comparative analysis makes it possible to assess the reliability of the information and to identify discrepancies among different accounts. Particular attention is given to the analysis of information concerning the sack of Baghdad, the fall of the Abbasid dynasty, and the formation of the Ilkhanate. In addition, the study includes a scholarly analysis of previously insufficiently examined data contained in the source. The scientific novelty of the research lies in introducing previously understudied data from Zubdat al-Fikra into scholarly circulation and in their source-critical reinterpretation within the context of the political history of Hulagu’s era. As part of the study, the source material has been translated into Kazakh for the first time, and its content-related, chronological, and interpretative features have been identified. The findings of the study make it possible to refine the chronological accuracy of data related to Hulagu Khan’s political activity and to reassess the nature of his relations with the Ulus of Jochi, the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, and the Sultanate of Rum. The results also contribute to a deeper understanding of the impact of 13th-century military campaigns on regional political structures, to a reconsideration of political processes, and to a more nuanced interpretation of transformations in the system of international relations. This, in turn, allows for a more comprehensive assessment of the place and role of the Ilkhanate within the broader context of the Islamic world and international relations.