South-Western Transbaikalia of the 19th - early 20th cent. under the trans-boundary conditions

The article is devoted to some spheres of boundary cooperation of Russia with Mongolia and China in the second half of the XlX - early XX centuries: interstate relations, economic and cultural issues, that are revealed on the basis of archival, epistolary and published material. The role of Transbaikalia in the system of the Russian-oriental international relations is characterized, Troitskosavsk/Kyakhta and Maimachen became the key centers. A comparative characteristic of the Russian-Mongolian and the Russian-Chinese trade contacts is given, of its structure and significance in the system of international trade at the Eastern edge of the empire. However, more attention is paid to everyday ties of three trans-boundary peoples that revealed, first of all, in the economic relations that had been developing for the duration of long time. Establishment a band of free trade, unimpeded penetration by 50 miles deep into the border areas contributed to the intensification of international activities, the maintenance of interpersonal communication. Within this cooperation the introduction to the cultural traditions of the nations took place, it had a certain influence on the Russian economic activities at the Mongolian territory, where the frontier towns played the main role. It is stated that stability and friendly attitude in interrelations between Transbaikalia residents and Mongolians and Chinese, who performed their activities within the boundary band, had the strategic significance.