The volume based on papers presented at an international scholarly conference commemorating the 615th anniversary of the settlement of Tatars and Karaites in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The volume features the latest research by scholars from Belarus, Israel, Poland, Lithuania, Tatarstan, Turkey, and Ukraine on Lithuanian Tatars and Karaites. Both ethnic minorities formed an integral part of the society of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania. While preserving their distinct identities, they were also shaped by the sociocultural influences of the host society. At the same time, they maintained continuous ties with the wider Eastern world and created a “small Orient” within the Grand Duchy, marked by its religious and cultural forms, aesthetic sensibilities, and vibrant colors. Intended for both academic and general readers, the volume is organized into four thematic sections: history; language and text; cultural, religious, and national discourses; and sources.
Edited by Tamara Bairašauskaitė and Galina Miškinienė
