Armenians

The Armenian uplands on the basis of numerous and various ethnic and language elements. There are two main versions of the Armenian ethnogenesis, one of which (the migratory mixed hypothesis) is dominating in world historical science as it is supported by the greatest number of authoritative world experts. According to the main version, the ethnogenesis of Armenians occurred during the period since the end of the II millennium BC to the IV—II century BC as a result of ethnic dissolution of small protoarmenian Indo-Europeans migrating from the West in the massif of partially related Indo-Europeans — luviyets and native hurritov, urartov and hattov, occupying the Armenian uplands. The new ethnos owing to certain circumstances kept the protoarmenian language of Indo-European ethnic minority in a basis. In the Armenia the autochthonic version of the Armenian ethnogenesis which generally is based on various "hayassky" hypotheses according to which ethnic Armenians occupied the Armenian uplands since much earlier period has the greatest distribution. Mythological versions of the Armenian ethnogenesis are rejected by modern science. In process of further scientific studying of antiquities of the Armenian uplands it became clear that constructions around Van are signed by urartsky tsar Menua in not Indo-European urartsky language close to hurritsky, there was a big array of archaeological data, the history of the nearby states cleared up: Urartu, Hettsky empire and Mitanni. It became clear that appearance of Armenians — Indo-Europeans on language — in the territory of Urartu instead of not Indo-European urartiyets has to be somehow explained, and as the main version the hypothesis of resettlement of part of frigiyets to the east, on the Armenian uplands, right after disintegration of Urartu at a turn of the VII—VI century was accepted BC. This hypothesis, it seems, was confirmed by Herodotus's message that Armenians settled out from frigiyets and the message Evdoksa Rodosskogo that frigiyets and Armenians speak one language.
The migratory hypothesis with enthusiasm was apprehended in the Armenian diaspora which was strongly concerned during this period by intentions of Turkey and Azerbaijan to create the uniform state in the Caucasus. Political advantage of a migratory hypothesis during this period was that it obviously allocated Armenians from other people of the Caucasus with the isolated Indo-European origin.
The migratory hypothesis was fixed in world historical science, having undergone in the second half of the XX century a number of specifying modifications and having turned into the migratory mixed.Sources of antique time (or earlier period) are unknown to researchers in which Armenians would report something about the history. Also there are no authentic data on the Armenian writing before emergence in the V century AD of the Armenian alphabet. The first Armenian texts known for the scientist, belong to the V century. From them the main thing is "the History of Armenia" Movsesa Horenatsi. Also it isn't revealed archaeological traces of the Armenian city culture or any fundamental constructions before the I millennium BC, in the territory of east Turkey (where areas are well surveyed by not all), in the territory of Armenia where searches were conducted very carefully.
Movses Horenatsi among the first data on Armenia provides the list of the Armenian tsars, beginning from Paruyr, son Skayordi. From the linguistic point of view clearly that names of the tsars following Paruyr, given by Movses Horenatsi — Parthian by origin and, therefore, have to belong to an era of contacts between Armenians and Parfiyey not earlier than the III century BC therefore this list doesn't help for reconstruction of events of earlier period. Paruyr's name, son Skayordi, according to Piotrovsky's assumption, "the son of the Scythian" can mean and bear in himself a legend about ancient Armenian-Scythian contacts, however Parthian roots of this name give the chance to doubt it therefore this question needs additional researches.

Georgian people

Process formation of modern Georgian ethnos in the territory of the Western Transcaucasia represented centuries-old and difficult process. That the Georgian ethnos consisted of related (kartvelsky) and unrelated elements, and its territory extended by assimilation of other tribes, generally the Caucasian origin, pays attention of the legend from drevnegruzinsky chronicles. In "Moktsevay Kartlisay" the most ancient inhabitants of a left bank of the Chicken specify not картвелы, and bunturka which the chronicle calls tribes iebuseev. The last appear in the Bible as one of hanaansky tribes. Already in Kartlis Tskhovreba mythical "family tree" kartvelov, going back to Targamosu, one of sons bible Yafeta is given. In the same place children of "ancestor" kartvelov Kartlosa are listed: Kakhos, Kukhos, Dzhavakhos, etc. These names in fact display names of historical areas of Georgia Kakheti, Kukhetiya, Dzhavakhety etc. also represent thus attempt to prove their origin. However in names of areas other, more ancient values, or probably even earlier existing here ethnos irrespective of, whether there were they closely related kartvelam remained.
Concerning a kartvelsky linguistic community, disintegration of language basis of kartvelsky languages by researchers is dated II thousand BC when isolation of Svan language begins. Possibly, in the VIII century BC, the kartsko-zansky (megrelo-chansky) language unity broke up. Already in the ancient time the East Georgian tribes left to the Black Sea, having broken the massif of the West Georgian tribes into two parts, and occupied Kartli behind the river the Chicken. Since then the West Georgian tribes made two groups: actually megrelsky (in present Western Georgia) and lazo-chansky (ranging from Adzhara to Trebizond the present territory of Turkey).  In the IV century BC in the Western Georgia there was the Colchis kingdom. To the east of the West Georgian (megrelo-chansky) tribes there lived kartsky (East Georgian) tribes. In the III century BC here in the area Mtskheta there was a Kartliysky kingdom (Iberia). In the twilight of the existence it included also Colchis and adjoined to the western areas of the Caucasian Albania. Caucasian albanian took part in ethnogenesis the Georgian of Kakheti. By the end of the IV century. The western Georgia was integrated under the power of the Egrissky (Lazsky) kingdom.
The Georgian people were formed on the basis of three closely related breeding associations: courts, megrelo-tubs and svanov. Process of formation of the Georgian nationality came to the end generally in the VI—X centuries.

Chechen people

Chechens (self-name "nakhchoy/nokhchi") represent one of the most ancient people of the world with the characteristic ethnic person and original culture, unique anthropological type. Today it is the largest ethnos of the North Caucasus numbering to two million people (from them not less than one and a half million live in the Russian Federation).
Chechen (or nakhskiya) language belongs to the nakho-Dagestan family of languages and goes back roots to the most classic hurrito-urartsky languages of the Lobby of Asia and the Caucasus. Nowadays to actually nakhsky languages carry the Chechen, Ingush and batsbiysky languages. Languages of the Abkhaz-Adyghe group also have relationship with the nakho-Dagestan languages through the most ancient sinoseverokavkazsky parent language arisen in the Middle East.
Settling by the most ancient person of the territory of Chechnya took place not less than 100 — 40 thousand years ago. After the termination of the last ice age within one thousand USh-UP BC there is a migration into the North Caucasus of neolytic tribes from upper courses of the Tiger and Efrat and the territory of modern Iran. In 1U-Sh of thousand BC North Caucasian autochthonic tribes make transition from stone instruments of labor to metal and reach a certain level of a civilization. On the Caucasian isthmus there are developed archaeological cultures: Maikop and kuro-araksky, being coevals of ancient Egypt and Sumer.
Ancestors of Chechens had undoubted genetic relationship with the population of all Caucasus, Forward Asia and Asia Minor. Cultural and language ties are traced with the most ancient civilizations of Entre Rios of the Tiger and Euphrates, with a hurrito-urartsky community, этрусками and the most ancient people of Europe – Basques.
The anthropological type of prachechenets was created finally as kavkasionsky group of so-called Caucasian subrace of the balkano-Caucasian type of evropeoidny race in the II—I millennium BC. During an era of late bronze and early iron kavkasionets occupied the southern and northern slopes of Greater Caucasus Range between Black and Caspian by seas, being engaged mainly in agriculture, cattle breeding and the crafts connected with processing of metal, a stone, skin, a bone and clay. Here on the local soil there were two autochthonic archaeological cultures: kayakentsko-harachoyevsky and kobansky which were the general also for ancestors of mountaineers of Georgia, the Ossetian, Balkars, Karachays, Ingushs and Dagestanis.

Circassians

Circassians. It is part of Adyghe, during migration from Prikubanya to the east settled in upper courses of Kuban and Zelenchukov where before the tataro-Mongolian invasion of the XIII century the western group of alansky tribes lived. Since then differentiation of two Adyghe groups began: western, in modern practice and literature long ago received the name "Circassians", and east — Kabardian. The name "Circassian" isn't by origin Adyghe, it has a foreign-language origin and in sources appears not earlier than the middle of the XIII century. From now on Adyghe become widely known in various sources (including Russians) as Circassians.
The number of Circassians makes to 50 thousand people. As believed E.P.Alekseev, in the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia there are kurganny burial grounds both the West Circassian type, and Kabardian. Judging by these data, in the XIV—XV centuries here lived both the western Adyghe and Kabardians. Probably, of these two groups of Adyghe also there were modern Circassians as intermediate Adyghe group between Adyghes and Kabardians.
      The political history of Circassians in the XVIII century is connected with fight of Russia and Turkey for North Western Caucasus. After Peter's I Caspian campaign of 1722-1723 influence of Russia in East Caucasus was approved, but Western Caucasus will continue to remain a sphere of influence of Turkey. It caused numerous military collisions of Russians with Turks, after the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739 construction of the Caucasian strengthened line began. In 1774 on conditions of the Kuchuk-Kaynardzhiysky peace treaty between Russia and Turkey Kabarda and other next areas were recognized as possession of Russia. But on it fight didn't end.
       In September, 1790 the huge Turkish army under Batvlpasha's command from Anapa moved to depth of Ciscaucasia. Turks were broken, Batal pasha was taken prisoner, the remains of the Turkish army in a panic ran, pursued by Abazins. After that events the people of Karachay-Cherkessia appeared completely in the sphere of the Russian influence, in 1804 in the top Kuban Ust-Tokhtamyshsky and Batalpashinsky strengthenings were put, in 1829 the new defensive line — Zelenchuksky is put. So settling of this territory by the Russian population, first of all began the Cossack villages. Circassians from mountain valleys since 1833 move on the foothill plain on the rivers Big both Small Zelenchukam and Kuban. So arose 11 large flat settlements of Circassians in which they live and to this day.Economic way of Circassians in essence didn't differ from way of other Adyghe. Especially it is necessary to allocate horse breeding for which Adyghe long since were famous.
  In the middle — the second half of the XIX century the sort directed adats was a basis of a social order of Circassians.
      In the ethnographic and cultural relation Circassians differed nothing from other Adyghe people. The people's assembly — a descent, differing the democratic character was the main self-government institutions of the Circassian community. However with development of the feudal relations in the XIX century at meeting the opinion of the prince became solving, the people only approved decisions and took the oath. Courts were carried out on adats already known to us — the common oral law.
       With Islam distribution courts on an adat were forced out by sharia court under Muslim religious laws. According to adats, men could appear out of the house only in the Circassian clothes and with the weapon, first of all with an invariable dagger on a belt. As at all mountaineers, the weapon was a subject of pride and personal prestige of the Circassian.
     After October revolution of 1917, in 1922, the integrated Karachay-Cherkess autonomous region, subsequently the divided was created. In January, 1957 the integrated Karachay-Cherkess autonomous region with the center in Cherkessk (the former village Batalpashinsky) is again formed. Now being KChAO left structure of Stavropol Krai and is transformed to the independent subject of the Russian Federation — the Karachay-Cherkess Republic with the presidential executive power entered in June, 1999 after elections of the first president of Karachay-Cherkessia.

Kumyks

The uniform point of view on an origin of Kumyks isn't present. According to the scientist Klaprota, they — descendants the Khazar, so known in medieval historical chronicles; one of tribes of Kumyks still is called "Sheezari". According to other scientists, Kumyks — it is the Tatars long ago located in the Caucasus and transformed to a powerful tribe, called "Kumyks" and "kazi-Kumyks" (about these last we will talk later).
When there was well-known Tamerlan, Kumyks obeyed to this conqueror, as well as tribes of mothers-katov, so tells Sheref-ad-din, speaking about Tamerlan's last campaign against khan Tokhtamysh. From this it is possible to draw a conclusion that the Kumyks acting on the party of Tamerlan, probably, were descendants Kipshak or one of tribes of the Golden Horde. Ptolemaeus mentions the people Kama, or Kamaki, living in those places where Kumyks are now settled.

Modern Kumyks speak on the Turkic adverb different from an adverb of Nogais; long since they practise Islam Sunni sense and though in customs, customs, clothes they are similar to mountaineers, as a result of mixture with them, they consider themselves as Tatars by origin.
The first contacts of Russia with masters of Kumyks are dated 1614, in archives the certificate relating to this year on the fidelity, sent by tsar Mikhail Fedorovich to the Kumyk khan by the Weight and to his brothers is mentioned; next year other document containing data on submission of Kumyks of Russia is dated. In any case it is possible to assume that even before time some Kumyk tribes were already depending on Russia, in particular in 1594 when in Feodor Ioannovich's [367] reign near Koysu the city, also as well as in 1604 when at Boris Godunov fortresses on Sunzha, in Enderi and in vicinities of Torquay were under construction was founded.
The same year Kumyks rose and, having united with Circassians and Lezgians of Dagestan, compelled valorous voivode Buturlin to recede for Terek and to leave above-mentioned fortresses. Nevertheless Kumyks continued to maintain the friendly relations with Russia till 1722 when Peter I undertook a campaign to Persia; then Kumyks rose again, they attacked Russians, but were crushed and punished for the treachery by plunder of the settlement of Enderi in which was then to three thousand houses. From now on Kumyks were faithful to our government and all the time were quiet and obedient.

Dargwa people

Dargins, the people in Russia, indigenous people of Dagestan. Number in Russia (together with the Kaitags which have entered into their structure and Kubachins) 353,3 thousand people, including in Dagestan 280,4 thousand people. Live also in Stavropol Krai (32,7 thousand people) and Kalmykia (12,9 thousand people). Total number is 365 thousand people. Language Dargwa nakhsko-Dagestan group of a North Caucasian family; the major dialects - akushinskiya (on its basis the literary language), tsudakharskiya, urakhinskiya (hyurkilinsky), sirkhinsky, mekeginsky, haydaksky, muerinsky, gubdensky, Qatar, Kubachi, chiragsky, megebsky. Russian is widespread. Writing on the basis of the Russian alphabet. Believers - the Sunni Muslims.
The first certificates of the Arab authors on Kaytage and Zirikhgeran belong to the 9th century (in connection with events of 6-7 centuries) (Kubachi). The first mention ethnos Dargins - 15 eyelids. In the 14th century Islam was approved. By the beginning of the 19th eyelid in the territory of Dargins there was the Kaitag utsmiystvo, a number of the unions of rural communities (in mountain settlements), partially - the Tarkovsky shamkhalstvo. After entry of Dagestan into structure of Russia (1813) Dargins took part in liberating fight of mountaineers of Dagestan and Chechnya under the leadership of Shamil (1834-59), actively participated in anti-colonial revolt 1877. With 1921 Dargins as a part of the Dagestan ASSR, with 1991 - the Republic of Dagestan. In Soviet period the part of Dargins moved on the plain.
Since the 16th century there are three economic and cultural areas: 1) nizhnepredgorny (with part of the plain) - pashenny agriculture (barley, wheat, millet, corn, bean) and stationary cattle breeding (cattle); 2) the mid-mountain - pashenny agriculture and distant-pasture (fall) sheep breeding; 3) the mountainous - distant-pasture (spring) sheep breeding and pashenny agriculture.
Are developed, generally in mountain areas, house crafts, especially wool processing (cloth, carpets, oriental carpets, knitted products), metal, a tree, a stone, skin. The weapon, jewelry from Kubachi, agricultural tools, the weapon - from Harbuk, blades from Amuzgi, a pottery (including irrigation) from Sulevkenta, cloth from Hadzhalmakhi, a carved stone from Sutbuk and Holaaya, wooden tools, utensils from Kaytaga, skin of tsudakharets, morocco and Gubden's women's shoes, etc. are most known. Widely the otkhodnichestvo practised. From the 2nd half of the 19th eyelid penetration of the commodity-money relations amplifies. The modern economy of Dargins is based on traditional occupations. In agriculture and cattle breeding new highly productive cultures and breeds are introduced. Mountain settlements of Dargins generally dense, terrasoobrazny, in the foothills moving more free, houses have yards. The most ancient dwelling single-chamber, with the center in the middle. The main type of the dwelling in mountains - two - and multi-storey buildings with a flat roof, in the foothills - two-storeyed and one-storeyed houses. For years of the Soviet power there were new public buildings and wider streets, houses (is more often two-storeyed, with a verandah) with iron and tile dvuskatny roofs.
Men's traditional wear of the all-Dagestan type - a shirt, trousers, бешмет, the Circassian, a burka, sheepskin fur coats capes, leather and felt footwear; the female - a dress shirt, wide or tight trousers, in a number of settlements a dress like архалука, various fur coats and leather footwear; headdress - чухта (I had local options) and a cover, richly trimmed with silver jewelry and embroideries.
Traditional food - flour and meat-and-milk, and also vegetables, fruit, greens, berries.

Lezgian people

The Lezghin people are one of the most ancient native people playing large role in a political system of Transcaucasia and the North Caucasus, in its economic, spiritual and cultural development. The people living in the east of the Caucasus, in the state the Caucasian Albania, close to each other, both on language, and on culture were ancestors modern the Lezgian. For the history the Albanian state was exposed more than once to various aggressive invasions of Romans, Persians. Till VII century of our era the Caucasian Albania managed to keep the integrity, despite all attempts of aggressors. The gain of the Caucasian Albania belongs to the VII century Arabs and distribution among the lezginoyazychny people of Islam. After the Arab gain Albania was divided into some administrative units, including a kingdom of Laks which population was made by the Lezgians forced out from flat areas and other lezginoyazychny people. XIII-XIV centuries. are noted by campaigns the Khazar, кыпчаков, Mongols on the Lezgian. After the tataro-Mongolian invasion during the XIV-XVIII centuries the Caucasus was taken more than once Turks, Persians. So as a result of lifting of national liberation fight of the Lezghin people headed by great commander Hagi-Daudom Mushkyurskim the Iranian expansion was stopped and the Persian aggressors led by the Iranian governor the Nadir shah were crushed. In the middle of the XVIII century in the territory of moving of the lezginoyazychny people independent khanates, free societies started being formed. By the end of the XVIII century almost all feudal possessors realized that Russia in comparison with Iran and Turkey is stronger and reliable support and therefore tried to strengthen the relations with it. From 1802 to 1804 many khanates including Lezghin, accepted the Russian citizenship.
          In the 60th years of the XIX century there were some administrative changes. The Samursky district and the Kyurinsky khanate were a part of the Dagestan area, and the Cuban province - to the Baku province. Khanates were liquidated, Lezgians will of imperial officials were divided between two provinces, and then and the states. This division remains and to this day.

During a socialism era, with the birth of the new states Lezgians at first were divided by administrative borders within uniform political space of the USSR. With disintegration of the USSR Lezgians against the will appeared as a part of the different states. Between the southern and northern Lezgians the rigid frontier was established. After disintegration of the USSR the Lezghin people got under strong pressure on the one hand again appeared sovereign states, and on the other side of imperious and economic clans. Unfortunately, the Lezghin people weren't ready to the changed political system, couldn't rally as uniform ethnos.Now the Lezghin people consist of 11 closely related nationalities. Besides the Lezgian also lezginoyazychny Tabasarans, Rutuls, Aguls, Tsakhurs, Udis, Kryz, Budukhs, Archi enter into him, hinalugi and haputi. Varieties of national cultures is a condition of existence of universal culture. Each national culture is general achievement of mankind, and the destruction, any people or its culture is loss for all mankind as a whole.