The Role of Historical Events in Shaping Ethno-Cultural Landscapes in Russia
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| Format: | Recurso digital |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866901827393421312 |
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| author | Kumar, Rakesh |
| author_facet | Kumar, Rakesh |
| contents | <p><strong><em><span>Abstract</span></em></strong></p> <p><em><span>Historical events over the last seven hundred years have influenced ethno-cultural configurations of geographic space in Russia. Ethno-cultural landscapes are characterized by settlement location, cultural practices, language distribution, and symbolic territory, creating a rich tapestry across space and time. The fragmentation of Slavic principalities due to Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century, the introduction of nomadic ways of life, the sixteenth century conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, nineteenth-century conflicts in the Caucasus region, the disruption of the Russian civil war and subsequent Soviet policies such as korenizatsiya (indigenization) and large-scale deportations, and changes in ethnic composition after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 all have created a diverse geography with various types of interactions with Russia’s extensive geography. Indigenous peoples preserved their traditional shamanistic beliefs while living in vast Siberian forests or tundras; the ruggedness of the North Caucasus Mountains provided a stronghold for ethnic resistance that was passed down through generations; and the open plains of the Volga-Ural Steppes allowed for migration and intermingling of cultures. The combined effects of these factors have created long-term patterns of ethnic diversity, provided the foundation for strong cultural identity based upon survival narratives, and spurred continuing demands for greater regional autonomy within the federation. This article will examine how major historical events (e.g., the Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century, the expansion of the Russian Empire during the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries, the Russian Civil War between 1917 and 1922, Soviet era policies of korenizatsiya and deportation/migration of populations from 1920 through 1950, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991) have significantly affected these ethno-cultural landscapes. Using historical geography, ethnographic methods, and political science theory, the study will argue that these events not only altered the borders of territorial units, but also developed a pattern of ethnic separation, cultural mixing, and autonomy-seeking. A comparative analysis of areas such as the North Caucasus, Volga-Ural, and Siberia will provide evidence that disruptive events utilized topographical characteristics to develop resiliency among peripherally located ethnic groups, whereas centralizing activities led to assimilationist efforts in centrally located areas. The article will highlight the long-term impacts of historical events, including contemporary issues with federalism, and present potential policy solutions to help govern multi-ethnic states. Overall, this research seeks to understand how history and space interactively create ethno-cultural patterns in expansive federations.</span></em></p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_18114905 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | The Role of Historical Events in Shaping Ethno-Cultural Landscapes in Russia Kumar, Rakesh Historical events, ethno-cultural landscapes, ethnic diversity, cultural identity, regional autonomy, Russian Federation, Mongol invasions, Russian Civil War <p><strong><em><span>Abstract</span></em></strong></p> <p><em><span>Historical events over the last seven hundred years have influenced ethno-cultural configurations of geographic space in Russia. Ethno-cultural landscapes are characterized by settlement location, cultural practices, language distribution, and symbolic territory, creating a rich tapestry across space and time. The fragmentation of Slavic principalities due to Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century, the introduction of nomadic ways of life, the sixteenth century conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, nineteenth-century conflicts in the Caucasus region, the disruption of the Russian civil war and subsequent Soviet policies such as korenizatsiya (indigenization) and large-scale deportations, and changes in ethnic composition after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 all have created a diverse geography with various types of interactions with Russia’s extensive geography. Indigenous peoples preserved their traditional shamanistic beliefs while living in vast Siberian forests or tundras; the ruggedness of the North Caucasus Mountains provided a stronghold for ethnic resistance that was passed down through generations; and the open plains of the Volga-Ural Steppes allowed for migration and intermingling of cultures. The combined effects of these factors have created long-term patterns of ethnic diversity, provided the foundation for strong cultural identity based upon survival narratives, and spurred continuing demands for greater regional autonomy within the federation. This article will examine how major historical events (e.g., the Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century, the expansion of the Russian Empire during the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries, the Russian Civil War between 1917 and 1922, Soviet era policies of korenizatsiya and deportation/migration of populations from 1920 through 1950, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991) have significantly affected these ethno-cultural landscapes. Using historical geography, ethnographic methods, and political science theory, the study will argue that these events not only altered the borders of territorial units, but also developed a pattern of ethnic separation, cultural mixing, and autonomy-seeking. A comparative analysis of areas such as the North Caucasus, Volga-Ural, and Siberia will provide evidence that disruptive events utilized topographical characteristics to develop resiliency among peripherally located ethnic groups, whereas centralizing activities led to assimilationist efforts in centrally located areas. The article will highlight the long-term impacts of historical events, including contemporary issues with federalism, and present potential policy solutions to help govern multi-ethnic states. Overall, this research seeks to understand how history and space interactively create ethno-cultural patterns in expansive federations.</span></em></p> |
| title | The Role of Historical Events in Shaping Ethno-Cultural Landscapes in Russia |
| topic | Historical events, ethno-cultural landscapes, ethnic diversity, cultural identity, regional autonomy, Russian Federation, Mongol invasions, Russian Civil War |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18114905 |