Highlanders - who is this?

about these peoples are not many interesting information, as they have long preferred to live in isolation and in conjunction with nature.Who are the Highlanders?This will be the main topic of our research.

big story in the last century the Russian people a lot of wandering around the vast expanses of opening horizons region and the steppes, conquering new territory.The first mention of mountaineers goes far back into history.At the end of the XVIII century, our ancestors-countrymen have come to the right bank of the Kuban - the river in the North Caucasus.And we saw a picture of settling people called themselves mountaineers.So first there was the designation of these people, which has survived to this day.It is often said that the mountaineers - a people living in the mountains.This is undoubtedly true: the life they choose mostly high mountain areas.

Location of

century later stabilized Caucasus.Its north-western part of the Living large number of people.They are divided between the entire territory of the picturesque region: the Black Sea coast, between the rivers and the upper reaches of the rivers Belaya and Laba.If, for example, chosen tapantintsy Kuban plains, the Highlanders remained in the Caucasus Mountains.For a long time they were unable to deal with the usual things fully.For the Caucasus are still struggling nation.Periodically areas covered epidemic, rampant disease.One of the lessons was cattle.Not wanting to be in the center of the carnage, initially Highlanders bypassed the central regions, where they could get under the bloody wars of the conquerors.Because, given the nature of their behavior, correct to say that the mountaineers - are residents of mountain and foothill arrays.

Battles over land

But to say that they did not take part in wars impossible.The most famous of the battle - Caucasian war, marching from 1817 to 1864.At that time, the Highlanders took the Main Ridge, and when Russian is getting closer to the Caucasus, had a strong resistance.But if Russian soldiers were prepared and moved slowly but carefully, the Highlanders, not owned imposing remedies and weapons, often preferred to sit in the mountain forests.

However, in recent years long war all mountaineers fiercely and actively defend their territories.They kept in suspense Russian battalions, organized attacks and uprisings, took possession of the strengthening of the Mikhailovsky, and Nikolaev Lazarevskiy fort, and later built a small plant for the production of guns, weapons that still remained at levels lower than they were at the disposal of the Russian army.

Stay witting

In the XIX century began a massive census.Data on the numbers were approximate.Highlanders were not taking into account, meeting such attempts are quite tough.We know that they did not like to admit to themselves outsiders.The ideology of these people thought of sin to engage in recalculation.They were afraid that the data will get to the reigning authorities, which could increase the tax burden, to introduce a mandatory conscription or even to take measures to destroy the Highlanders.Their number has not been officially confirmed.But clearly, it underwent changes due to the participation of civil strifes and battles to defend the territory.Highlanders fled their areas in search of a new life;adjoined to other nationalities, of course, without documenting.

Past and present

In the modern period, ethnographers often wondered: "Who are the Highlanders?"To trace the history of their development and formation, compared to the current situation, they are not just sent to the regions in which they lived.For example, near the city of Nalchik live large colonies of Jewish mountaineers.Travelers pay attention to the order in which they kept their modest home.Cleanliness rightly distinguishes them from many European nations.

Through description, in a more general form we can say that the mountaineers - a wild tribal peoples with their life principles.They are often called the "children of nature."However, this does not detract from their humanity, spirituality, and in some places and at all destroys the stereotype emerged hermits.This nation is known for his cheerful disposition.They are distinguished by commitment to peaceful relations, which, however, often violated wars.Highlanders participated in the exchange-yards, fairs, bazaar items, maintained the tradition kunachestva, formed their customs and way of life.

Lovers words connoisseurs of beauty

Among the Highlanders were good poets.They do not like to throw words to the wind.But too much emphasis on the surrounding landscape.Songs Highlanders certainly praise the look of his native land.Nature has been involved in everything that happened in their lives.The songs mountaineers often turned to rocks, rivers, forests and roads, believing that they can ask for help to find solace.