Pages: 93-110

The authors compare the influence of migration waves and military-political conflicts on the main changes in the dynamics of trade between the tribes of Kuban region and the interfluve of the Volga and the Ural and the ancient centers from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD. In most cases, various military-political factors influenced trade in these regions. Sarmatian migrations contributed to the long-term maintenance of trade volumes between tribes of both regions and the ancient centers at a low level, and these were general factors in the 2nd century BC. The development of trade in Kuban region was greatly influenced not only by migrations, but also by military conflicts in which ancient states were involved. A number of military conflicts that took place on the Bosporus, or affected it, had a strong or noticeable influence on the development of trade in Kuban region (the Mithridatic Wars, the campaign of Pharnaces II to Asia Minor and his struggle against Asander, the Polemon raid against Tanais, Roman-Bosporan war of 45—49 AD), but they did not significantly affect the trade relations of the Sarmatians between the Volga and the Ural. On the far periphery, the development of trade depended more on migration processes and was more closely related to the military-political situation in Central Asia. Strengthening of the Alans in the Eastern Europe steppes did not have any significant impact on the development of trade in Kuban region, and in the interfluve of the Volga and the Ural it contributed to the emergence and stable functioning of the northern branch of the Great Silk Road.

Keywords: Kuban region, Volga-Ural interfluves, Bosporus, ancient import, barbarians, Maeotians, Sarmatians, trade, war, migrations

Information about authors:

Andrey Bezrukov (Magnitogorsk, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. G. I. Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University. Lenin Ave., 26, Magnitogorsk, 455000, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Vladislav Ulitin (Krasnodar, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Kuban State University. Stavropolskaya St., 149, Krasnodar, 350040, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]