Annexation of Western Siberia to the Russian state in the 16th-17th centuries: trade-economic aspect

The reasons for the annexation of Western Siberia to the Russian State have been considered systematically in the literature. At the same time, almost all authors deem the consequences that led to the annexation of the Siberian Khanate and other indigenous state formations in Western Siberia to the Russian state. Firstly, it led to increase in significance of fur hunting and trade in the all-Siberia economy. At any rate, since the 12th-13th centuries furs were the basic feature of the Siberian export. For this purpose, in the middle of the 15 th century, the Muscovy Tsar Ivan accepted some Ostyaks and Voguls' tribal unions under his protection and Siberian overlord Ediger to obtain foremost valuable furs from them. Until the time to come, the Muscovy government had been restricted with very relative relations of vassalage regardless the development of its own administrative or military deployment in the so-called fur territories. The situation changed in the second half of the 16 th century and these changes resulted from the European revolution in the price for furs. At that time, historians paid attention to the drastic change in the global price situation for walrus tusks, especially for furs and leathers, therefore, Western merchants and sailors were compelled to seek new purchasing markets. Hence, it made them sail extensively across the Arctic Ocean in the second half of the 16th century. These sailings frightened the government of Ivan IV that northern Asia would become an English or a Dutch colony. The Tsar's concern was clear since the state treasury could lose its enormously rich replenishment resource. Another aspect of the foreign relations of the Siberian Khanate is partially explained by its relatively swift military defeat. As for the Bokharan states' relations with their northern partners by the end of the 16 th century and entry to the market of Europe were the primary goals, hostile relations with Iran made it difficult to expand any trade turnover in Central Asia westward and southward. New distribution market would eventually be Europe, but the hostile relations between the Russian state and the Siberian Khan Kuchum significantly limited the possibility for independent transit through Siberia. Thus, the independent Siberian Khanate simply proved void in existing trade and economic relations among Europe, Muscovy and Central Asia in the second half of the 16th century.

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