Tataric

Tataric refers to a historical and geographical term that has been used to describe a vast region of Asia, particularly areas north of the Caspian Sea and the Ural Mountains. It is not a precise political or ethnic designation but rather a broad term that encompassed diverse peoples and territories under the influence or control of Turkic and Mongol groups, most notably the Tatars, following the Mongol invasions of the 13th century. The term was commonly used in European geography and cartography from the Middle Ages through the 18th century.

The specific geographical boundaries of "Tataric" varied over time and depending on the source, but it generally included regions that are now part of modern-day Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Siberia. European writers often used the term "Tartary" (a variant spelling) to refer to these lands, sometimes associating them with nomadic peoples and vast, underexplored territories. The perception of Tataric lands was often colored by a mixture of fear, curiosity, and misunderstanding among Europeans.

Over centuries, as geographical knowledge expanded and political entities evolved, the term "Tataric" gradually fell out of common usage. It was replaced by more specific regional names and understandings of political states and ethnic groups. While the term itself is largely archaic, its historical usage provides insight into how Europeans viewed and categorized the diverse cultures and landscapes of Central and Northern Asia during a specific period.