The most luminous period of the
Caucasia and Daghestan in terms of economical and commercial life was during the Abbasids
sovereign. Therefore, we see the perfect description of caravan routes in the
Arabian writers works. Following the Caspian Sea coast, the Arabian merchants visited the
cities on the Volga River in the Khazar Khanate and reached to Black Sea and Baltic Sea,
and even to Scandinavia. Many Islamic coins found in the Baltic coast of Scandinavia is a
clear evident for this commercial relation. Using the same
caravan routes, the Caucasians also traded their goods to the said countries in the north
and to Near East, Persia and Iraq in the south. Their main export products vere copper and
bronze kitchenware and some armory. It is reported that gold and silver were also among
the traded goods which were mined in Caucasia. The trade routes were changed and this
commercial relation stopped for some time because of invasions or instability around
Caucasia. When peace was made agan ore the status quo was established, this
commercial relation started again and Caucasia gained its commercial importance as usual.
Neither the establishment and collapse of those great
empires in the neighbourhood of Caucasia nor the exploration of sea routes decreased its
commercial importance. But after the Moscov with no commercial background seized the trade
routes from north to south changed the situation. Caucasian commercial life lost its
function during the period of wars for 300 years that ended with the slavery of Caucasia.
One of the prominent Turanian states, Muslim Turk-Mongol
Altın Orda Empire, collapsed in 1502. Its successors, the Khazan and Astraghan states
were invaded in 1552 and 1556 in order by the Moscov which was growed under the shelter of
Altın Orda Empire. Therefore, there left no obstacle for the Moscov through the Caucasia
and Turkistan. So, they made their first trial invasion in the region by attacking in 1594
first to Ghaziyurt and then in 1604 to Tarkhi, which was one of the important cities
in Daghestan.
The Russians never gave up to struggle for their objectives
despite many defeats, and at last invaded the whole region after three-century struggle.
The Caucasia lost its role in the world commercial life by losing the independence after
this long wars for three centuries. In this period, Moscov used every means to stop the
Caucasian relations with other nations. At the beginning of the 17th century, the chains
of forts from the Volga river to Dinyeper river started to seize the Caucasian trade
routes through the east. In the first quarter of the 19th century, Russia invaded the
Khazar and Black Sea coasts of Caucasia and also an important part of Georgian and
Azerbaijan. Therefore they not only finished the transit importance of Caucasia but also
stopped the ability for commerce with its neighbours. There followed the Sovies System
which closed all the doors to the world in a way never seen in history, which made the
Caucasia an ordinary land and a raw material source for the Soviets but nothing more.
Dahgestan reflects and is known for the most orginal
characteristics of Caucasia. Meaning a Mountainous Land in Turkish, Dahgestan is
placed on the west coast of the Cassian Sea in the eastern Caucasia. Geographically,
Daghestan is a mountainous land of approximately three thousand high on Caucasian and Andi
mountain range between the Sulak and Samur rivers and the Cassian Sea, except the plain
land for 15-25 km on the sea coast. Daghestan gained its borders in Soviet period with the
addition of Hasavyurt, Kizlar and Acigol region.
After a short time from the Russion invasion in the end of
18th century, a strong opposition among the Chechen and other Caucasian peoples in
Daghestan against Russia. After a long war for almost 60 years, which was closely followed
by the world, Daghestan and the whole Caucasia were invaded by Russia. Caucasian bravery
and incredible contribution for defending their country draw the attention of especially
the European public and this made the Caucasia an interesting research area for western
writers and researchers from the mid 19 th century and on. As for the historian Dulaurier,
Caucasians’ insisting patriotic defence saved all other Middle East countries
against Russion invasions. Taking into consideration that in 241 years from 1677 to 1918
Russia started 13 wars against Turkey and they lasted for 50 years – that means; there
was Russian-Turkish war in every 18 years, and also considering that once Russia forwarded
to Edirne in the west in 1829 and to Erzurum in the east, it can easily be seen the severe
Caucasian opposition at that time formed a great obstacle for Russia towarded to down the
south. Likewise, Russia invaded whole Far East Turkish lands in a short time after they
finished Caucasian problem.
Daghestan tribes have differences in
many ways as well as having characteristically common points. They are intellectually
improved, clever, patient, talented for making decision, honorable and faithful people.
Being moderate about foods and drinks, these excessively brave people are sturdy against
weariness and sleeplessness and are unequaled in agility and boldness. Moreover, they
fight insistingly and intensively if necessary. On the other hand, some of them is
struggling in alcoholism with the effect of Russian culture.
Continued
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