ARTHUR CUNYNGHAME’S “TRAVELS IN THE EASTERN CAUCASUS…” AS A SOURCE ON HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY OF DAGESTAN OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32653/CH193592-609

Keywords:

Caucasian War, Dagestan within Russia, history and ethnography of the peoples of Dagestan, interdisciplinary research, sources of English-speaking authors of modern times

Abstract

The latter half of the 19th century witnessed the culmination of the Caucasian War, the integration of the Dagestan Oblast into the Russian Empire, and Emperor Alexander II’s historic visit to Dagestan. These key events have been extensively covered in domestic historical literature, supplemented by English-language sources that offer valuable insights into the history and ethnography of the North-Eastern Caucasus. One such source is Arthur Cunynghame’s book, “Travels in the Eastern Caucasus...,” comprising travel notes documenting his journey through the Russian Empire, with a particular focus on the Eastern Caucasus. This translation exclusively encompasses the section pertaining to Dagestan, shedding light on the region’s way of life and customs of its inhabitants. To unravel the historical richness within Cunynghame’s account, we employed a range of historical research methodologies, including historical periodization, historical-genetic analysis, retrospective examination, and systematic historical research. Cunynghame’s narrative is a trove of information, encompassing geographic coordinates, climate, toponymy, hydrography, orography, and profiles of notable individuals in Dagestan. Beyond historical insights, Cunynghame’s work offers valuable insights into the economic activities, material culture, and social fabric of select Dagestani ethnic groups. Throughout the analysis of the material, certain inaccuracies have emerged concerning historical dates, events, official positions, personal surnames, ethnonyms, Caucasian languages, and the origins of specific Dagestani ethnic groups. The translation process was conducted using the digitized original book, accessible through the archive database of archive.org. The introduction of this translated work into scholarly discourse, accompanied by the author’s comments on the book, constitutes a significant contribution to the history and historiography of Russian Caucasian studies in the latter half of the 19th century.

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Author Biography

  • Magomedhabib Ruslanovic Seferbekov, The Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Daghestan Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences
    Junior Researcher

References

Cunynhame, Arthur Augustus Thurlow. Travels in the Eastern Caucasus: On the Caspian and Black Seas, Especially in Daghestan, and on the Frontiers of Persia and Turkey, During the Summer of 1871. London: John Murray, Albemarle St., 1872.

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Published

2023-10-29

Issue

Section

History

How to Cite

1.
Seferbekov MR. ARTHUR CUNYNGHAME’S “TRAVELS IN THE EASTERN CAUCASUS…” AS A SOURCE ON HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY OF DAGESTAN OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. ИАЭК. 2023;19(3):592-609. doi:10.32653/CH193592-609