THE ULUS OF JOCHI IN THE ERA OF THE BLACK DEATH, «ҚАРА ӨЛІМ» ДӘУІРІНДЕГІ ЖОШЫ ҰЛЫСЫ, УЛУС ДЖУЧИ В ЭПОХУ «ЧЕРНОЙ СМЕРТИ»

<jats:p>Introduction. The article examines the Ulus of Jochi in the era of the Second Plague Pandemic, known as the Black Death, and reassesses its place in the history of epidemic processes in Eurasia. The study proceeds from the assumption that the Golden Horde should not be viewed only as a peripheral zone through which the disease passed on its way to Europe. Aim and objectives. The aim of the article is to analyze the Ulus of Jochi as an important space of plague transmission and impact. The objectives are to review the main historiographical approaches, identify the possible routes of the pandemic, characterize the natural and communication conditions of its spread, and assess its demographic, economic, political, and cultural consequences. Results. The article shows that the cities, caravan routes, river networks, Crimean ports, and connections of the Ulus of Jochi with Central Asia, Khwarazm, the Volga region, the Black Sea area, and the Rus’ principalities turned this space into one of the key nodes in the movement of the Black Death. The spread of plague was shaped by natural reservoirs, climatic fluctuations, population mobility, trade networks, and the vulnerability of urban centers. Conclusion. The Black Death was not the sole cause of the crisis of the Ulus of Jochi. However, it intensified existing contradictions, weakened cities and trade, disrupted political stability, and deepened the processes associated with the Great Troubles and the subsequent restructuring of the Golden Horde space.</jats:p>