HISTORICAL MEASUREMENT UNITS OF THE MONGOL PERIOD (13th–15th cent.)

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Abstract

The history of the Golden Horde and the Mongol period as a whole suffers from a scarcity of comprehensive and systematic sources on historical metrology. Existing evidence is fragmentary and derives mainly from individual yarliks, narrative chronicles, oral traditions, and numismatic materials. As a result, the study of metrological systems of the 13th–14th centuries relies heavily on written sources produced in neighboring regions that maintained political, economic, and cultural relations with the Mongol Empire.

This article examines metrological terminology and measurement practices used in Central Asia under Mongol rule, focusing on units of length, weight, volume, and area. The study demonstrates that the metrological system of the Golden Horde was hybrid in nature, combining Turkic, Persian, and Arabic traditions adapted to imperial administrative and economic needs. The absence of strict standardization was compensated by functional norms, including the widespread use of temporal (days, weeks, months of travel) and anthropometric measurements.
Based on a comparative analysis of medieval written sources and modern historiography, the research identifies regional variations in measurement units, traces their etymology, and determines their geographical distribution. The findings reveal attempts at partial unification, particularly in fiscal and administrative contexts, while preserving local practices. The study contributes to historical metrology by systematizing underutilized data and situating measurement practices within the broader socio-economic and cultural framework of the Mongol Empire.