(literally, “Black Lands”), a flat, semidesert region in the western part of the Caspian Lowland, mainly in the Kalmyk ASSR. Chernye Zemli is bounded by the Ergeni Upland on the west and the Volga delta on the east. It is an area of transhumant stock raising with pastures primarily for winter use. The name of the region derives from its not being completely covered by snow in winter.
(literally, “black lands”), in 14th- to 17th- century Russia, the landholdings of chernososhnye krest’iane (a category of peasants under the direct control of the state) and of the part of the urban population subject to the tiaglo system of taxation (seeTIAGLO). In the early 18th century chernye zemli came to be called state (kazennye) lands.