The Old Zakamskaya line in Russian history and cultural memory: reflection in the “Tatar encyclopedia” and other regional encyclopedic publications

Abstract

The article analyzes the representation of the history of the Old Zakamskaya defensive line in regional and specialized encyclopedic publications, primarity the six-volume “Tatar encyclopedia” (2002–2014). The relevance of this study stems from growing interest in historical and cultural heritage as a factor in regional identity and the need for a comprehensive study of border zones where different peoples interacted for centuries. The paper identifies the main vectors of scholarly understanding of this phenomenon in regional historiography at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. It examines the interpretation of this large-scale fortification project of the Russian state in the middle 17th century, its role in the colonization and stabilization of the southeastern borders, and its significance for the formation of the historical and cultural landscape of the Middle Volga region. The role of encyclopedias in preserving and updating this heritage is substantiated: encyclopedic studies act as the most important tool for translating scientific knowledge into the realm of public consciousness, securing the Old Trans-Kama Line's status as a common historical and cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia. It concludes that encyclopedic publications play a key role in systematizing, verifying, and popularizing knowledge about this heritage site, integrating it into the pan-Russian historical context.

For citation: Pashina E.V. The Old Zakamskaya line in Russian history and cultural memory: reflection in the “Tatar encyclopedia” and other regional encyclopedic publications. From History and Culture of Peoples of the Middle Volga Region. 2026, vol. 16, no.2, pp. 14–27. https://doi.org/10.22378/2410-0765.2026-16-2.14-14-27 (In Russian)