By Ways of Memory: Identity and Pattern of the Past in H. Amirkhan's «Tawarikh-e Bulgharia»

The article presents the thoughts of one first Tatar historians Husain Amirkhan (1814–1893) about historical genealogy Muslims Volga-Urals and Muslim tradition region as a whole. original text, in many respects, conducts dialogue opposes work Hisamuddin Muslimi with same title dated by end 18 th beginning 19 centuries. Accents, form author’s memory, comply to system values which author was formed person, an alim, historian. perception past one's people reflects attempt at systematic analysis outside methods modern knowledge. H. calls his contemporaries “Muslims”, word “Tatars” appears sections origin Bulgars story history Kazan after joining Russia. existence Islam its become main context “stories” region, absorbs adapts local stories within Volga-Urals. This is reflected use shajara settlements. uses texts that were part writing, while actively engaging polemics them. Following logic written possibly oral sources, most loyally ethically consistent chronological narrative population A created pattern past, which, certain assumptions, exists present.