Krasnodar History
There are different periods in Ancient History: geological, anthropological, historic – cultural, archaeological, - each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. In oder to watch on the history of culture and civilization we address to last one. According to last one, people development is determined of the materials, from which were made instruments of labour. So, three kinds of centuries are underlined – stone epoch, bronze epoch, and iron epoch.
Epoch of stone
In many sciences’ opinion one of primary ways of settlement of the Eastern Europe by man lay through the Northern Caucasus. The first traces of a pristine have been kept but it’s difficult to say, when they crossed the Caucasian ridge. In the place of a primitive’s sites archaeologists found thousands stone articles, bones of cave bear, bisons, wild horses. Among the most interesting finds of late paleolith epoch – a destroyed burial (for the time being the first one in the Caucasus). Rare example of pristine art – prints of palms, dyed with ochre near sites of Gubskiy on Laba.
Epoch of bronze
It is difficult to determine, what tribes were the first who began to treat copper, and here there are several questions, which have no answers, although they will appear later. The first people of Stone Age in Kuban were, most likely, representatives of so called Maikop culture.
Its name is connected with the greatest monument – a chieftain’s burial, which was excavated in 1897 near Maikop. In the southern part of the grave a man in a golden diadem, probably a chieftain, was buried. In clothes, decorated with golden, turquoise, cornelian beads the late had been lying on right side. Today on the territory from Taman to Dagestan more than 200 monuments of Maikop culture are opened. In this culture two stages are marked out6 Maikop and Novosvobodnensky, called according to the burial place.
Novosvobodnenskie burial places differ from Maikop ones very much. The late is laid with his head to the south and sprinkled with ochre. In the tomb, the walls of which were sometimes decorated with paintings, bronze arms, ceramic ware, stone implements were sunk.
Outrun cattle-breeding of Maikop tribes had already ousted hunting. Flinty sickles, stone grain grater, ceramic strainers denote development of agriculture. Bronze details – horse breeding. Traces of weaving and potter’s craft. Different peoples strongly replaced each other. Just appearance of bronze gave a stimulus to migratory cattle-breeding and developing of Kuban steppes.
Epoch of iron
Iron appears in Kuban at the beginning of I millennium B.C. It is suggested that it came here from Asia Minor and Transcaucasia, where it had been famous earlier. Probably iron came in Kuban from sea in trade caravans of Greeks and Malaysians.
For sure one may affirm one fact: two cultures closely connected with each other – nomad Scythian and settled Meotskaya - were formed at the beginning of iron century on the territory of Kuban. Iranian-speaking Scythians forced out Cimmerians from Black Sea steppes and settled in steppe and submountain areas of Kuban.
Strabon’s characteristic of Meots: “being occupied with agriculture but not yielding to nomads in bellicosity”, - is interesting. The base of Meots’ economic mode consisted of agriculture, fishing, cattle-breeding and craftsmanship. Wheat, rye, barley, millet, lentil, flax.
Among crafts pottery spread. Each tribe had also its smith, producing armor, weapons, implements. Masters of decorative treatment of metal were distinguished.
Foreign guests
Since 6 century B.C. the territory of the Black Sea had been actively settled by Greek colonists. On Tamansky and Krechensky peninsulas more than ten and a half of Greek towns. Some of them coined their own money.
Primary income the towns used to get from trade with Greece and neighboring tribes. In 5 century B.C. probably for better protection from neighbors, city states were united into Bosporskoe kingdom, by the middle of 4 century B.C. devoured the Eastern Sindik, located on Taman.
United power of Greece city states allowed tsars of Bosporskoe kingdom to clear the Black Sea from pirates in a short space of time. In Tamansky peninsula number of agricultural estates increased, wine-growing and wine-making developed. Serious income was provided by fishing.
On the territory of the Black Sea sarmats came. Fight with them took much power and money, and trade was of little profit. At the same time the situation in the antique world changed. Primary partner of Bosporskoe Kingdom in bread trading Athens fell into decay. All next centuries the territory of Bosporskoe kingdom decreased. In Crimea Scythian state formed, in Kuban sarmats gather momentum. Rebellions and the war with Rome had been lasting for more than half a century, and only on the border of millenniums in Bospor bloom already consisting of Roman empire began. Opening of new markets of bread, fish reorganized economics of the city states of the Black Sea.
Cities began develop, new fortifications allowing to stop nomads’ urge, were erected. The cities of Bosporskoe state, tormented by strong neighbors and own weakness, had existed another century. Invasion of Huns put an end of the history of Greece colonization.
Steppe waves
Huns’ invasion began an epoch, famous as the Great migration of peoples. Steppe warriors moved out Ostrogoths and Visigoths from their places. They attacked Byzantium and Rome. Huns’ chief Attila reached the Central Europe, having conquered local peoples. And when after his death Huns’ nomad empire weakened and broke up into numerous tribes, alarmed German tribes dashed to the South and West. A pot, out of which splashed peoples, formed in Kuban. After break-up of Attila’s power Huns’ tribes of akatsirovs, onogurs, saragurs, utrigurs, wandered on the territory of Kuban, replacing each other. Constant intertribal affairs were roused by Byzantium.
In 5 century Huns’ tribes of Kuban were often called Bulgarians. The next centuries in Kuban are marked by rash upsurges and drastic fall of nomad and semi-nomad powers. At the end of 6 century Huns, Utrigurs and Kutrigurs went into the war with Avars. The result of this war is joining Kuban steppes in the West-Turkic in 576. After the fall of êàãàíàòà in 630 Bulgarians freed themselves from Avar dependence and formed the Great Bulgaria on the territory of steppes of right-bank Kuban and Eastern Stavropol.
The history of the Great Bulgaria turned out short – a little more than 20 years. The power broke apart after the death of its founder khan Kurbat, heirs of whom preferred to lead a nomad’s life separately from each other. The consequence of this fragmentation became joining of Kuban to Khazar. Khazar is one of mysterious peoples of the south of Russia, who had appeared from nowhere and disappeared in nowhere.
For less than half a century Khazars reached the Sea of Azov and the Black sea and settled down on the Azov coast and the lower reach of Kuban. Khazar farriers produced arms of the best quality, which were bought far from the borders of the êàãàíàò . At the time when Khazars little by little were losing their force, its outskirts gained power. Alanines of upper reaches of the Kuban and the Terek began to raid. The crises delved deeply into Khazars themselves, when tribes of aristocracy adopted Judaism. Chronicle holds back why they did it. There is a version, that if they had adopted other faith, they would have depended on their strong neighbors, such as Byzantium or Arab caliphate. Judaism didn’t cause such problems, but couldn’t (or had no time) form a society. This put an end to Khazar êàãàíàò although it is only a version.
Remote areas of Russia, Byzantium, Genoa: The union with Tmutarakan, which amass Black Sea trade in itself, was a forced necessity. Inhabitants of Transkuban foothills, merchants of medieval Russia, turned to semi-nomad way of life, couldn’t go without trade with Byzantium. Perforce nomads had to seek compromise with citizens. The first
Tmutarakan prince in 988 became Mstislav the Brave (son of prince Vladimir, who had baptized Russia). During his ruling the princedom flourished. After his death the princedom became a sanctuary of an opposition – princes, cheated out of his rightful share and fallen into disgrace. The last Russian of Tmutarakan became Oleg Svyatoslavitch. But his reigning had been lasting not for a long time – local Khazars took proud Oleg prisoner and handed him over, as a hostage, to amicable to Kiev Constantinople.
The second Tmutarakan enthroning of Oleg was accompanied by annihilation of Khazars, who had betrayed him. After leaving Tmutarakan he lost and the coastal princedom of various races fell out of Russian life and hasn’t been mentioned in chronicles any more.
The subsequent history of Tamansk peninsula had continued for over 300 years in selected course of the forced world of settled trading posts with nomad cattle-breeders. Only peoples, who took part in this confrontation, changed. The Byzantium period in Taman finished in 13 century and, as earlier, the invasion of nomad tribes became gave impetus to this. Genoese dominion had lasted over two centuries: since 1266 to 1475. The most important significance in trade was presented had been presented by cities-fortresses Matreg (Taman), Kopa (Slav-on-Kuban), Mapa (Anapa), Sebastopolis (Suhum), Tana (Azov). Relationship of Genoeses with the local people were difficult. After monopolization of trade in the Black and the Azov seas they introduced limit on import and salt extraction, having inflated prices of it.
Agdinskiy tribes lost their forces and was hampered in their development. Piracy, gaining force, became answer to it. Circassian princes sometimes equipped pirates. At the end of 15 century Turks captured Constantinople and soon with support of Crimean Tatars Turkish landing forces captured Kafa. During a year the whole colony of Genoeses of the Black were conquered by Turks.
Border-line of empires
By the end of 15 century Turkey became undivided sovereign in the Black sea. In Kuban at this epoch the model of development and, if you will, confrontation of peoples, changed. If in the Northern Black sea coast Crimean Tatars had been tormenting settled Malay Russia and the southern remote areas of Russia by their raids for almost 200 years, at the same time in Kuban wars with nomads ended.
In the steppes of Kuban of the right bank Nogaes led nomad’s life. On the left bank in the foothills, along the Black Sea Circassians settled. Centuries of Turkish dominion finally formed character of Circassian peoples, having kept ancient customs. The custom of obligatory handing over of their newborns into an alien family for fosterage was wide-spread especially among princes and nobles. It returned from it on attaining majority.
A tutor was a fellow-tribesman of a low class but respected. Tutors of prince’s children were nobles and tutors of nobles were peasants. There was not lack of persons wishing to become tutors as it was honorably and profitably. A tutor used to get presents from relatives and a foster child’s friends during all time of upbringing. And on completion of upbringing a foster child makes himself responsible for support of his tutors.
Making friends is in a sense blood brotherhood between representatives of different peoples – emerged in the period of intestine dissensions. There were many traditions of making friends, but an essence came to one – to be bound up in each other till the death.
Such ceremonies served as reconciliation in blood feud. While Turks Circassians and Nogaes finished stratification of the society into classes. Peasants quickly lost everything because of blood feud, paying out for blood to relatives of the deceased.
Russian colonization of Kuban and Caucasus began in the years of reigning of Catherine the Great. Outlet of the empire to the Black sea, conquest of Crimean khanate and constant confrontation with Turkey demanded influence of St.-Petersburg on the southern borders. After fall of Crimean khanate friendship between Russia and Nogaes and Circassians. The last allies in the fight against Crimean people began to raid on each other.
In 1777 general-lieutenant Alexander Suvorov was sent to pacify the borders to Kuban. On the right bank the general built a chain of fortresses, which were served for defense against mountaineers. At the same time having established friendship with many Circassian princes, he suppressed mutual raids for some time.
After joining of Crimea to Russia in 1783 Suvorov visited Kuban again, where he swore Nogay tribes in faith and a little later stifled a rebellion of two Nogay hordes, which attacked Don stanitsas and kept faith to the oath to their fellow-tribesmen. The consequence of this rebellion was Nogae’s migration in the steppes of Stavropol.
Suvorov could confirm peace with mountain-dwellers with the help of not only force of arms, but also of respect for their culture, world view. On the whole Transkuban Circassians, who had never admitted themselves subjects of Turkey, were incited in favour of Russia. The situation became worth when Russia meddled in the domestic affairs of Circassian tribes.
For the first time it happened in 1796. At that time free peasants began rebellion against their princes. In summer a battle happened. Shots of cannons decided end of the rebellion. The victory stood Russia in bad stead. All these told on later, when according to the Adriapolsky peace of 1829 the eastern coast from Anapa to Abkhazia passed on to Russia. Here a number of fortifications and fortresses were built or reconstructed. The principles of them were Anapa and Gelendzhik, and since 1838 Novorossisk.
Joining of Caucasus dragged for more than half a century. The Caucasian war of 1857-1864, the center of which for many years were Dagestan and Chechnya, finished on the Black Sea coast.
Finishing of the Caucasian war
After finishing of the Caucasian war peaceful arrangement of the Southern Caucasus began. The territories were led out of direct submission to the Caucasian governor and in winter of 1860 divided into Kuban and Tersk areas and Stavropol government. Kuban government, formed in 1860 of lands of Kuban Cossack army and Black Sea government, had a territory, the area of which made up 83140 sq. versts (29099000 sq. ft), the population was 3123 thousand people, 419 stanitsas and volosts. In 1868 Ekatherinodar received the status of a city and was opened to all who wished to settle down there.
Distributing body of the Cossack commune was a Cossack gathering. All householders had the vote, and in their absence – sons not younger than 21. Absence without a valid reason was punished by fine. Gathering solved economic tasks: allocation of lands, allotment of hay lands, pastures, fishing lots, discharge of taxes, appointment of atamans, judges and so on.
There is an interesting custom, which have come to the revolution. Area of land of Cossack family depended on number of children of male sex. If a boy was born, a land was allotted and he owed it till the death. In the case of a girl an allotment wasn’t extended. Not seldom in families, where only girls were born, Christmas-tide arsons were resorted to. As a help, provided by neighbors, was insignificant and it was necessary to repay. During Christmas-tide several Cossacks gathered, set fire to a house of a poor family and after this according to the rules of the commune a new house was built, provided the family with all necessary: crockery, things, cattle.
These were given without indemnity. Householders often met Epiphany in a new big house with rich farming. At that time a house was built for two days. So many families got out of poverty. Of course people not often resorted to this, and only in case of respected and hard-working Cossacks.
The revolution prevented Cossacks to form their ethnos once and for all. At first Cossacks accepted the revolution but after their economical basis were broken, foreigners were allotted with lands, the Cossacks went over into the other camp. As the result of these processes by the beginning of 1930s the Cossacks in Kuban ceased to exist as social phenomenon.
Last splash of Cossack consciousness fell at the years of the Great Patriotic War, when the government of the Soviet Union, being in need of army, remembered about hereditary warriors of Russian south. Separate sub-units of Cossacks were formed. Kuban forces and horse divisions finished the Great Patriotic war by the battles of Berlin and Prague.
At the beginning of the 1990-s of the previous century in Kuban a wave of the Cossacks’ reconstruction began again. But present Cossacks, who are lack of the paramilitary environment which gave birth to them, remain rather ethnographic “chip” of the society, than a real community with common interests and traditions.
Disintegration of the Soviet Union changed a vector of Krasnodar krai development. The region which had considered to be agrarian province for almost a century, turned out the only way out of Russia to the Black sea. Transit trading through the only non-freezing ports of Russia and resort business began to develop here rapidly. Here 1/10 of all Russian bread, a half of sunflower and 90 % of rice are grown. Besides that by volume of foreign investments Kuban wan the third place in Russia, and by volume of investments per head – the first place in 2002. With every year Krasnodar krai has played more significant role in economy of Russian Federation.
Gradually local resorts have become maximally attractive for arranging not only summer but also winter rest. Krasnodar krai has numerous cold and thermal salubrious springs. One of the largest of them is balneal (Matsesta) and coastal climatic resort, functioning since 1909. In Krasnodar krai there are another resorts. Anapa is a coastal climatic and balneal resort; Gelendzhik, coastal climatic resort zone, which includes settlements Kabardinka, Divnomorskoe, Dzhankhot, Beta, Arkhipo-Osipovka; Tuapse with settlements Dzhubga, Novomikhailovsky, Olginka, Nebug, Agoi, Gizel-Dere, Shepsi, Eisk – mud-bath, Hot Spring and Khadizhensk – balneal.
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