Medieval Medrese as Instrument and Factor of State Policy: The Crimean Aspect

The paper deals with the organisation of the system of medieval spiritual-educational institutions of secondary and higher level (madrasahs) in the territory of Crimea. Emphasis is placed on aspects, evidence and methods of inclusion of pupils and leaders of these institutions in the system of state management of political formations in the territory of medieval Crimea: the Crimean ulus of the Golden Horde and the Crimean Khanate. On the basis of analogies from other regions, a hypothesis is put forward about the leading role of the madrasah institution in the management of the population and territories of Crimea during the period of dominance of political entities whose state religion was Islam. The study attempts to reconstruct the system of internal self-governance of madrasahs (issues of the educational process) and their presumably centralised external governance. The questions of the source base problems of studying the documentary and monumental heritage of the Crimean Khanate are raised.