| Article |
|---|
| Article name |
Transformation of the Uyghur Khaganate Elite and the Liao Empire: A Comparative Analysis |
| Authors |
Vasyutin S.A. Kemerovo, Russia, vasutin@history.kemsu.ru |
| Bibliographic description |
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| Section |
Oriental Studies |
| UDK |
94(517)»08/11» + 94(510).03/04 |
| DOI |
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| Article type |
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| Annotation |
The Uyghur Khaganate and Liao Empire were the most complex social, economic and political
formations created by nomads in Central Asia during the period of the early Middle Ages. The article
presents an analysis of the evolution and structure of the elite strata in these imperial formations.
The comparison of the composition of the privileged strata and research on closed clan groups and
ways of penetrating into the elite strata reveal the peculiarities of the Uyghur and Khitan empires
elite strata. In the Uyghur Khaganate and Liao Empire due to large resources received from tillers,
citizens and commerce the composition and functions of the elites became more complicated but the
results of these changes were different. The Uyghur elite didn’t completely segregated and remained
open even to descendants from other ethnic groups. In the Liao, by the 11th century the Yuli clan
became the centre of a closed group of imperial elite with the right to succession. On the contrary,
constantly expanding Khitan noblemen elite connected with Northern administration was open since
clan connections, successful military and administrative activities and education contributed to the
promotion in the hierarchy of positions. At the same time in these societies the growing number of
elite members led to internal tensions, conflicts, intestine wars which along with the external threat
and other factors caused the decline of the Uyghur Khaganate and the Khitan Empire of Liao.
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| Key words |
Uygur Khaganate, Liao, elites in nomadic empire, evolution and composition of elites,
imperial nobility and bureaucracy, closed clans and social groups, non-nomadic origin strata. |
| Article information |
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| References |
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| Full article | Transformation of the Uyghur Khaganate Elite and the Liao Empire: A Comparative Analysis |
