5.1 million people live in Georgia (2000). The ethnic composition of the population is diverse. The largest ethnic group is Georgians (70%), followed by Armenians (8), Russians (6), Azerbaijanis (6%), Ossetians, Greeks, Kurds, Abkhazians, Adjarians.

The formation of the Georgian people occurred as a result of a long process of communication and interpenetration of related tribes, who bore the collective name of map. This is where the self-name of Georgians came from - “Kartveli”, as well as the name of the country “Sokartvelo” (translated as the country inhabited by Georgians).

Georgians belong to the Kartvelian group of the Caucasian family. The Georgian people consist of several sub-ethnic groups (the three main ones are Georgians, Mingrelians and Svans), and the Georgian language is represented by 17 dialects corresponding to the sub-ethnic groups of the country's population.

Most of the population are Christians (Georgia adopted Christianity at the beginning of the 4th century). The Georgian Orthodox Church - one of 15 autocephalous churches existing in the world - covers 65% of believers, the Russian Orthodox Church - 10%. Adjarians profess Islam: during the time of Turkish rule, the indigenous inhabitants of Adjara were forcibly converted to Islam, but they managed to preserve their native language, national culture, and customs.

Historical conditions determined the settlement of peoples across the territory of Georgia. In the villages of Eastern and Southern Georgia, a significant part of the inhabitants are Armenians and Azerbaijanis, who moved here in the late feudal era. In the 19th century Streams of Armenian refugees rushed to the southern regions of Georgia. At the same time, there were several Russian settlements in Southern Georgia, mainly military ones, as well as Russian sectarians persecuted by the authorities. In Western Georgia are Abkhazia and Adjara, where Abkhazians and Adjarians live. The majority of Ossetians live in South Ossetia. The country's major cities - Tbilisi, Batumi, Rustavi - are distinguished by their ethnic diversity. The demographic situation in Georgia is unfavorable. Since 1991, processes have been reducing the birth rate and increasing mortality, which leads to a reduction in natural population growth (Table 5.1).

In terms of infant mortality (in 1991 - 13.7%, in 1999 - 17.5%), Georgia now ranks first among the countries of Transcaucasia.

External migrations played a significant role in increasing the population of Georgians in the pre-war period. Almost all of those who arrived from other regions of the USSR were employed in industry and construction. Georgia had a positive balance of mechanical population movement until the end of the 1950s. In subsequent years, the number of departures constantly exceeded the number of arrivals. And currently the migration balance is negative.

Abkhaz-Georgian conflict 1992-1993. brought about<15 тыс. жителей. Вооруженный конфликт в Абхазии, а также в Цхинвальском регионе привел к появлению беженцев и временно переместившихся лиц. За пределами Грузии, в основном в России, проживают в настоящее время более 100 тыс. грузин. Около 300 тыс. грузин вынуждены были переселиться в другие районы Грузии, большая часть из них проживает в Тбилиси, Рустави, Самегрело.

In the late 80s - early 90s. In Georgia, a category of “environmental migrants” appeared. During these years, natural disasters occurred - earthquakes in Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi, avalanches in Svaneti and landslides in the mountainous regions of Adjara. As a result, 118 thousand residents were forced to move to other parts of the country.

Estimates by Georgian demographers and official statistics on the size of external migration are contradictory. However, most sources stop at the fact that in recent years about 20% of migrants have left the country.

In addition to Georgians, representatives of other peoples inhabiting Georgia are leaving the country. Over the past 10 years, more than 76% of the Jewish population has left it. Many Russians are leaving.

The unemployment rate in the country is one of the highest in the CIS - 4.7% (only Armenia has higher rates). According to the Georgian Ministry of Economy, more than 60% of those employed in the industrial sector of the economy lost their jobs. The average monthly salary in 2000 was $33.4, pension - $8.1.

The primary task remains accelerating the economic rehabilitation of the population and especially overcoming poverty.

In Georgia, the richest sections of the population, representatives of the oligarchic elite, make up no more than 3-5% of the population. The share of the middle layer is less than 10%. The majority of the population is poor and destitute. As a result of the minimum wage lagging behind the subsistence level, hitherto unknown social strata of society emerged in the country, the so-called new, or working, poor, which primarily includes the intelligentsia. This category also includes refugees from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. A special form of poverty has emerged - the impoverishment of people who previously actively participated in public life, and their income and social status were high. According to world standards, if the share of the poor exceeds 8-10% of the population, the country’s recovery from the depressive state is delayed.

The origins of the culture of the Georgian people go back to the distant past. The creation of Georgian writing dates back to ancient times. The first works of Georgian literature that have reached us were written in the 5th century. Shota Rustaveli’s brilliant poem “The Knight in the Skin of a Tiger” has been translated into many languages ​​of the world. Monuments of church architecture from the 11th to 12th centuries have been preserved.

Georgian folklore - folk songs, dances, poetry - stands out among the folklore heritage of the peoples of the world. The polyphonic folk song is especially famous. In the world folk music culture there are no analogues to four-five-voice Gurian and Kartl-Kakheti songs.

National specificity is also preserved in the widely known unique Georgian cuisine.

The ancestors of the Georgians are mentioned in the Bible; the legendary Colchis, where the Argonauts sailed, was located on the territory of Georgia. It seems to us that we know a lot about Georgians, but their history and culture holds many mysteries.

1. Georgians call their country Sakartvelo. This toponym translates as “all of Kartli” and goes back to the name of the region of the same name. The toponym “Georgia” goes back to the name “Gurjistan” (country of wolves), found in Arab-Persian sources.

The European name of Georgia “Georgia” is also compared with the Arab-Persian name associated with the Georgian cult of St. George. A golden sculpture of the saint rises in the central square of Tbilisi.

2. The number of Georgians in the world is more than 4 million.

3. Georgians were one of the first peoples to adopt Christianity. According to one of the most common versions, this happened in 319. It is significant that, despite the global trend, the number of believers in Georgia is growing. Today, 80% of Georgians consider themselves Orthodox.

4. Georgian is an ancient written language. The oldest written monuments in the ancient Georgian language date back to the 5th century. These include a mosaic inscription from the first half of the 5th century near Jerusalem, as well as an inscription at Bolnisi Zion (60 km south of Tbilisi) from the end of the 5th century.

5. Georgians have a unique alphabet. In Kartvelian studies there are different hypotheses about the prototype of the Georgian letter. According to various theories, it is based on Aramaic, Greek or Coptic writing.

6. The self-name of Georgians is Kartvelebi.

7. The first state mentioned by historians on the territory of Georgia is the Colchis kingdom. It was first mentioned in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. Greek authors Pindar and Aeschylus. It was to Colchis that the Argonauts sailed for the Golden Fleece.

8. There is no accent in the Georgian language, only the tone rises on a certain syllable. Also, Georgian does not have capital letters, and gender is determined by context.

9. Joseph Stalin is deservedly considered the most famous Georgian in the world.

10. In the Georgian language, the decimal system is used for naming numbers. To pronounce a number between 20 and 100, you need to divide it into twenties and say their number and remainder. For example: 33 is twenty-thirteen, and 78 is three-twenty-eighteen.

11. Words familiar to us from childhood in Georgia do not have the meanings to which we are accustomed. “Mama” in Georgian means dad, “deda” means mother, “bebia” means grandmother, “babua” or “papa” means grandfather.

12. There is no “f” sound in the Georgian language, and in borrowed words this sound is replaced with a “p” sound with a strong aspiration. The Russian Federation in Georgian will sound like: “Rusetis paderatsia”.

13. According to economist Kennan Eric Scott of the Washington Institute, during the Soviet Union, Georgians supplied 95% of tea and 97% of tobacco to Soviet shelves. The lion's share of citrus fruits (95%) also went to the regions of the USSR from Georgia.

14. On the territory of Georgia in 1991, the remains of Dmanisian hominids were found, initially called Homo georgicus. They are almost 2 million years old (1 million 770 000). They were given the names Zezva and Mzia.

15. In Georgia, it is customary to eat kebabs and khinkali with your hands.

16. Despite the fact that Georgia traditionally has a high level of homophobia, the level of tactile contact between Georgian men is very high. While walking, they can hold hands, sitting in coffee shops - touch each other.

17. In everyday communication, Georgians use words that for some reason they consider Russian, although for us they will not always be understandable. Georgians call slippers chusts, wallpaper - trellises, beans - lobio, a T-shirt is often called anything worn above the waist, and boots are sneakers.

18. Georgians are rightfully proud of their wine. It began to be produced here 7,000 years ago, and today there are 500 varieties of cultivated grapes in Georgia. Every year the country hosts the Rtveli grape harvest festival.

19. Georgians are known for their hospitality. The guest in the house is more important than the owner. Therefore, in Georgian homes it is not customary to take off shoes.

20. Georgians are known for their love of long toasts, but not everyone knows that it is not customary to make toasts while Georgians drink beer.

Illustrations: Niko Pirosmani

The story of the origins of the Georgians will take us back to such a distant past that it is unlikely that anyone will be able to assimilate the information the first time. The Georgians themselves, as well as most historians, refer to the collection of chronicles “Kartlis Tskhovreba” (“Life of Kartli”).

Despite the fact that there are many historical inaccuracies and anachronisms in the chronicles, this document became the basis for the work of four modern Georgian historians, “History of Georgia”.

Daohi and Colchi

XII - VIII centuries BC, it is to this period that the first state formations on the territory of modern Georgia are attributed.

Daohi, later Taohi, is an association of Georgian tribes living in the territory of southwestern Georgia Tao (now in Turkey) at the end of the second millennium BC.

The Taokh were brave and courageous. They constantly fought either with the Assyrian kings or with the strong state of Urartu, which was formed in the 9th century BC south of Diaokhi on the modern territory of Armenia, Iran and Turkey. In the cuneiform monuments of Urartu, Daokhi is mentioned as a strong, rich and victorious country led by a king, which had to be reckoned with.

The Diaohs nevertheless weakened in constant conflicts with Urartu, paid them tribute and lost many territories. Both Assyria and Urartu came to an end under the onslaught of the Scythians, Cimmerians and Medes.

*HISTORICAL PARALLELS

This historical period includes the Trojan War, the beginning of the reign of the 20th dynasty of pharaohs in Egypt and the founding of Rome in 753 BC.

Kolhi is the second large association of Georgian tribes. The Colchians settled in the western territories of today's Georgia along the Black Sea coast deep into the Colchis Lowland. This is how the second state formation of the Georgian tribes was formed in the 11th-8th centuries BC. The ancient Greeks called the country of the Colchians Colchis. This country was mentioned by the ancient historians Herodotus, Xenophon and Strabo.

Colchis is the most famous place in Georgia thanks to the ancient Greek epic. We read about the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece.

The state of Urartu gave way to the state of Media, which occupied the Iranian plateau. After the fall of the country, the inhabitants of Urartu settled throughout the Transcaucasus, mixing with local Georgian tribes.

The Cimmerians, tribes from the Northern Black Sea region, repeatedly captured the territories of Colchi, and other tribes who descended from the mountains settled in the devastated plain areas.

Greek colonies on the Black Sea coast

In the 6th century BC, the Greeks founded colonies: Phasis, Dioscuria, Gienos. and Pitiunt. These names correspond to the Georgian settlements of Poti, Sukhumi, Ochamchira and Pitsunda. In addition, they formed Chersonesus, Panticapaeum and others on the territory of today's Crimea.

These were independent city-states that came under the influence of the more developed Colchis. According to Greek authors, Kolkheti, which was restored over time, was a country with developed livestock farming, grain farming, metallurgy, viticulture...

Silver coins “Kolkhuri Tetri” were in use here. The kingdom of Kolkheti or Egrisi maintained friendly relations with Achaemenid Iran, sending there on its own initiative 100 boys and 100 girls once every five years.

After the destruction of the ancient state association of Georgian tribes, Diaokhi, different tribes began to settle in Eastern Georgia.

After the fall of the kingdom of the Mushki (or Phrygia) at the end of the 6th century BC, the Meskhi tribes moved from Asia Minor to the southern territories of Eastern Georgia, the name of which was retained by some regions of Georgia, for example, Meskheti, Samtskhe,

By the IV-III centuries. BC dates back to the formation of the first “official” state in eastern Georgia. Iberia or the Iberian kingdom is mentioned by many ancient authors. This is what the ancient kingdom of Kartli was called in the ancient world. The capital of the kingdom was Mtskheta and the first king of the first ruling dynasty was Farnavaz. The First Dynasty remained in power until the 6th century AD.

Read about how Farnavaz became king HERE.

Do you want to get to know the history of ancient Colchis better? Book an excursion to Kutaisi. Located in Western Georgia, Imereti is the heir of the legendary Colchis.

Read more about the history of ancient Georgia

23. Peoples of Georgia.

The West of Transcaucasia is inhabited mainly by peoples who have received the integrated name “Georgians” or “Kartvelians”. Most of them speak various dialects of the Georgian language, which belongs to the Kartvelian group. This group of languages ​​also includes Mingrelian, Laz and Svan languages. Accordingly, in the 19th century, Mingrelians (then called Mingrelians or Mingrelians), Svans (Svanets) and Laz (Chanovs) were considered separate ethnic groups. Currently, the Svans are considered a subethnic group of Georgians, along with the Imeretians, Gurians, Kartlians (Kartalins), Kakhetians, Javakhetians, Khevsurs, Tushins, Pshavas, Adjarians, Meskhetians, Rachins... And as for the Mingrelians, who until the 1930s were considered a separate ethnic group, then there are two approaches: one part of the Mingrelians “Georgianized”, the other preserved their national identity, self-awareness, and language. The Laz, who speak a language close to Mingrelian, are considered a separate nationality.

The peoples of Georgia at the time under review had both common ethnographic features and differences due to habitat, occupation, and religion. In this part of the review, we will get acquainted with the life and customs of the Kartvelian people as a whole, and also consider the characteristic features of the main Georgian subethnic groups.

The sources of text information were the following publications:

- "Peoples of Russia. Ethnographic essays", (publication of the magazine "Nature and People"), 1879-1880;
- J.-J. Elisée Reclus. "European and Asian Russia", vol. 2, 1884;
- M. Vladykin. "Guide and interlocutor on a trip to the Caucasus", 1885;
- I. Kanevsky. "Curious corners of the Caucasus", 1886;
- Collection of materials for describing the localities and tribes of the Caucasus, issue 5, 1886.

The review uses photographs of contemporaries, illustrations from books and magazines, and paintings by artists of the 19th century.

The Kartvels or Kartalins themselves, who still retained the name that belonged to the whole nation, are Georgians living east of Suram, in a plain of lake origin, the center of which is Gori, and the extreme point is Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Kartalinia. In the eastern part, the Kartvelians mix with the Tiflis Georgians, and the name of the latter is often used as a common name for various nationalities of Georgia. The Kakhetians, occupying the easternmost part of Georgia, live in the valley of Iora and Alazan. To the west of Suram, the valleys of Rion, Tskhenis and the lower reaches of the Ingur are inhabited by Imeretians and Mingrelians; The Gurians occupy the northern slope of the Adjarian Mountains, and on the other side of this wall, and partly in the Chorukh basin, live the Laz. Finally, the Svaneti and some other tribes took refuge, as if in fortresses, in the mountain valleys of the Caucasus. Kartalins of different families cannot fully understand each other, due to the admixture of foreign words included in local idioms; nevertheless, from Trebizond to Tiflis, all dialects are extremely similar to each other. Among the literate Kartalians, the unity of the language was maintained with the help of writing, published in the Georgian language. With the exception of most of the Laz who converted to Islam, all Kartalins are Christians of the Orthodox faith. They consider St. St. George the Victorious. It is believed, perhaps with good reason, that after the name of this saint the country itself began to be called Georgia, from where, from the local pronunciation, the Russian word came out: Georgia.

Upon entering into Russian citizenship, the Kartvelian tribe was divided into four independent parts: Georgia proper, or the Georgian kingdom, Imereti, Mingrelia and Guria, ruled by separate independent owners. The Georgian people have been preserved in Imereti and Mingrelia much better than in Georgia itself. In these parts almost the entire population belongs exclusively to one Kartvelian tribe, while in Georgia the population is largely mixed with Tatars and Armenians. The reason for this is the historical fate of the Georgian kingdom, which was subjected to significant and frequent devastation. "Peoples of Russia"

The Georgians living in the Kura basin, like their western neighbors the Imeretians, Mingrelians and Laz, are deservedly famous for their beauty; they have luxurious hair, big eyes, white teeth, slender and flexible waist, small and strong hands. At the same time, they seem to be not as beautiful as the Kartvelians of the Black Sea coast, and their women are almost always lethargic, their gaze and smile are not illuminated by thought. Most Georgians have a red, almost purple complexion, caused, of course, by excessive drinking of wine. At every opportunity, Georgians take a goblet of wine and, saying the Tatar words: “Alla verdi,” i.e., “this is a gift from God!”, empty it in honor of their friends. Kakhetians are especially proud of the wine that their land produces - the Georgian Eldorado - and drink it in large quantities. Their wine, almost the only drink consumed in this country, can, it is believed, sometimes compete with the best varieties of the West. One of the objects that so often strikes the eye in Kakheti is wineskins made of ox or pork skin, with protruding ends, usually hung at the doors of shops, or dragged in carts and shuddering with every push, as if alive. In order for the skin to retain its flexibility, it is sometimes torn off from a living creature, and after this barbaric operation the skin is smeared with oil, which gives the wine an unpleasant odor, which, however, the foreigner gets used to very quickly. "European and Asian Russia"

Georgians are terrible hunters of feasting, but certainly in company. A singer and a zurna (pipe), somewhat reminiscent of our pity, with a dull drum - an integral part of every holiday, for which a Georgian is ready to spend everything. A feast in the open air, if the time is favorable, is preferred to a feast in the house. The company is first surrounded by an azarpesha (spoon-scoop), a kula (wooden jug), glasses, and then the turkish horns are used. The guests drink to each other’s health: “Alla verdi” (God gave), says the Georgian to his neighbor, raising the cup to his lips; - “yakshi-yol” (good journey, good health), he answers, doing the same. A lot of wine is drunk, but Georgians are very rarely drunk: “here,” they say, “from the mother’s breasts straight to the foot of the wineskin”; They get used to wine from an early age. In Kakheti, a mother will not put her child to bed until she gives him wine; A ten-year-old boy can easily distinguish the admixture of water in wine. In this blessed part of Georgia, wine is not valued at all; The time is not far off when residents, out of laziness to fetch water, washed themselves with wine, cooked food with it and sprinkled it on the floor.

Women do not take part in noisy feasts: they dine on the side and, it happens, also have a great time. About 30 years ago, in Tiflis there was a Georgian woman named Guka, who gained fame for destroying an incredible amount of Kakheti. People came from all sides to look at this marvel and argue with her over drinks, but, however, no rival was found in all of Georgia. And there was no physical possibility for this: Guka drank wine at a time not in tungs (tunga - 5 bottles), but in buckets, and did not get drunk at all. She called the bucket a glass, and the tunga a glass. This became a proverb, which can still be heard in Tiflis. "Guide and interlocutor on a trip to the Caucasus"

Georgian women are famous for their beauty. Despite the isolation and even slave position of a woman in the family, all housework is under the care of her husband. This indifference to work stems not from the Georgian woman’s nature, which is mostly lively and active, but from the fearful jealousy of a man to expose his wife to the disgrace of prying eyes, through her participation in activities outside the home. Georgians love to dress up; They are also not averse to gossip and are ready to chat all day long without stopping, they are ready, perhaps, to flirt on the sly, but they are far from real intrigue, and from the restless neighbors, and besides, there is no way to do anything secretly. From early morning, a Georgian leaves his home and spends almost the entire day in shops or in the bazaar, where often, for lack of work, he limits himself to pouring from empty to empty. The bazaar in Transcaucasia, as well as throughout the east, is the central point of all activity and all news. Both Georgians and Georgians are terribly superstitious and gullible. In general, the Georgian tribe is one of the most beautiful, capable and good-natured tribes in the world. "Guide and interlocutor on a trip to the Caucasus"

Georgian villages are scattered along the hollows and slopes of the mountains. From a distance they appear to be an irregular mound or a pile of ruins. In Kartaliniya, many villages and hamlets are deprived of gardens; in Kakheti, on the contrary, all the buildings are drowned in greenery. There is nothing characteristic or definite in the very location of the village: a two-story house stands next to a dugout, barely visible from the horizon of the earth. Everyone builds where he pleases, not paying attention to whether he will disturb the convenience of others or take up the road. There are no streets; the passages between the houses are so narrow and filled with such potholes that single horsemen can hardly pass through. Georgians are not in the habit of cleaning the streets; rubbish and carrion lie strewn before everyone's eyes and contaminate the air with their decomposition. In the middle of the flat roofs of the houses there are cone-shaped mounds with a hole for the smoke to escape, and around them are piles of brushwood and thorns for the firebox. A plank chicken coop and a wicker body on stilts for corn, for bird feed, are necessary extensions to the house. A commoner's hut (saklya) of primitive construction. It is built of wattle fence, with two compartments: one for the family, the other for the storerooms. The saklya is accessible only from the entrance. The roof and rear walls are level with the ground. It is surrounded by a squat, thorny fence and hickory, vine and weeping willow trees. The entrance to the hut is closed by a canopy arranged on small posts. "Peoples of Russia"

The front door leads first of all to the “darbazi” - the main and largest room, in the middle of which there are two, and sometimes one, pillars that support the entire house. The reception room, living room, kitchen and the very family life of the villager are concentrated in this room. Attached to the ceiling is an iron chain with a hook on which the cauldron is hung. Here a fire is made or a depression lined with stone is built, a small hearth used for cooking and warming during cold weather. The family gathers to dine around the hearth; This is where she sleeps. The floor in the hut is earthen and uneven. Along the back wall of the darbazi there are wooden shelves with dishes. In the wall opposite the entrance of the sakli there is a large niche in which the bed is laid. The furniture consists of wide but low ottomans, made of boards and covered with carpets. Along the third wall are chests and a wooden box for storing bread. There are also water jugs and other small utensils. The owner's military armor is hung on the walls, often covered with a significant layer of soot. Food is prepared in the hut itself, in a cauldron hanging above the fireplace, and therefore the constant presence of smoke in the room hurts the eyes and smokes the entire interior of the house. The flame, rising, heats the hut. A clay or iron scale containing melted lard is suspended from a beam resting on the ceiling. Its burning wick produces a dim, flickering light and, together with the flame of the fire, makes up the entire illumination of the saklya. A Georgian's city house is somewhat different from a village house. Almost every house has a balcony with a wooden canopy and is fenced from the street. A small gate leads to the courtyard. The dwelling itself consists of one chamber, so large that it could be made into several rooms with a hall. The floor is either earthen or brick-lined; The ceiling is made up of either unhewn beams or planed boards. For warmth, there is a fireplace (“bukhari”), which has a large opening without a grate. Pushed by the wind, the smoke spreads throughout the room. There are niches in the room; when covered with doors, they form cabinets. Along the walls there are low sofas covered with multi-colored carpets. A tambourine (daira) and other musical instruments hang on the walls; right there is a rifle with a bandoleer and a powder flask. "Peoples of Russia"

In the above description of the common features characteristic of Georgians and their characteristic lifestyle attributes, Kartalinia (Kartli) and Kakheti were most often mentioned. These regions are located in the east and center of Georgia. Now, gradually moving west, we will get acquainted with the local features of the culture and life of the inhabitants of other parts of Georgia.

In Imereti, a region in central and western Georgia, lived the Imeretians, one of whom is depicted in this clearly staged photograph by Odessa photographer J. Raoul:

Imeretians are mostly brunettes and, moreover, slender, but they do not stand out for their beauty in front of men, who, if not superior to them, are not inferior to them in beauty. Men are predominantly of average height; in the face of their more pleasantness than correctness. Almost all men wear either a beard or a mustache; and they have a special attraction to the latter. The native is a passionate defender not only of his mustache, but also of every single hair of it; some left the service simply because they had to shave their mustaches. “What kind of conscientiousness can one expect from a person,” say the Imeretians, “who has neither a beard nor a mustache?” Being kind, affectionate, courteous, the Imeretian is ignorant and a passionate hunter of processes and litigation of all kinds. Among the population appeared clerks, sneakers and lawyers, of whom everyone is afraid, to whom everyone bows low and seeks acquaintance and favor, as useful people. Such people enjoy fame, rob good-natured villagers and live comfortably at their expense. But, despite such a great desire for litigation, the Imeretians are, in essence, very good-natured and honest. "Peoples of Russia"

Javakheti is located south of Imereti...

And to the west of Imereti is the region of Samegrelo or, as it was called before, Mingrelia. And the inhabitants of this region of Georgia were called Mingrelians, and now they are called Mingrelians.

In the small space of Mingrelia you can find the sea, mountains of considerable height, valleys green with endless vineyards, and ridges of rocks crowned with castles and temples. There are both the delicate fruits of the luxurious south and the gifts of the harsh north. The whole of Mingrelia is a continuous garden, in which a vine with heavy clusters curls around each tree. Often spreading from tree to tree, the vines form a natural swing, on which women swing while sitting. This wealth of nature helps residents preserve the primitive state of infant tribes. Laziness, developed to the highest degree, made the Mingrelian capable only of plowing his own field and sewing clothes, but many of them walk barefoot in winter and summer. It costs nothing for a Mingrelian to build a house. You just need to dig a hole in the ground, two arshins deep, and whatever width you like, and line its walls with stone; make an entrance in one wall facing the light - then water will not flow into the house; divide the entire excavated space into two halves: on one - the spouse and family, on the other - the horse and cattle; Cover both halves with earth - and the hut is ready. A piece of wood and a board instead of a table serve as furniture for the Mingrelian; two or three cups made of plane wood and earthenware jugs make up all his utensils. "Peoples of Russia"

Mingrelians have delicate and more feminine facial features; There is no male beauty in them, but the type of Mingrelian woman is one of the most graceful in the world. Even women from the peasant class amaze with their beauty. In Mingrelia you can find both brunettes and blondes equally. True, they are not as beautiful as their neighbors, the Gurians, but their slender stature, smart, expressive faces, pretty heads, long and silky hair curly over their shoulders, and regular luxurious body shapes attract attention. Their movements are bold, graceful, passionate. The Mingrelian man is extremely capable, receptive, stubborn and vengeful, but in his manner he is modest and insinuating. It is difficult to rely on a Mingrelian and take his word for it. "Peoples of Russia"

Theft, highly developed in Mingrelia, is the main vice that has penetrated deeply into the environment of the people and constitutes an exclusive feature of the Mingrelians. Theft mainly applies to livestock, especially horses, and in this regard the Mingrelians are extremely dexterous. They cannot look at someone else's horse with indifference, especially when it is roaming free. A native horse thief uses many tricks to hide a stolen horse. Almost all classes, not excluding the clergy, were involved in horse stealing. This activity has been brought to the level of art here. "Peoples of Russia"

But this fertile land was inhabited not only by Mingrelians. Judging by the following text, someone else lived in the dense forests of Samegrelo...

South of Samegrelo is Guria, a small region adjacent to the Black Sea coast. In the 19th century, all of Guria was covered with dense, humid forests, impenetrable in places.

The type of Gurians differs significantly from the type of Imeretians and Mingrelians. The reason for this change in one and the same Georgian tribe was the influence of nature and the proximity of Turkish tribes, with whom the Gurians became related and were in constant relations through the sale of slaves. Such graceful children who look like frightened birds, such courageous beauty of men, such graceful thin profile of women are difficult to find in the Caucasus. In their manner and grace, Gurian women are very similar to southern Italians. The dominant character trait of the Gurian is extraordinary mobility, passion, liveliness, curiosity and enthusiasm. All Gurians are brave, good shooters and excellent pedestrians in terms of distance and speed of crossings. It is not difficult for a Gurian to travel, for example, in one and a half days from Ozurget to Kutais, which is about 190 miles along the direct route. The Gurian is selfish, but not for profit, but to fulfill his whims. A simple peasant will decide to commit the most terrible crime just to get himself a luxury item. A Gurian woman enjoys more freedom than in Georgia. Men are very free in conversations with women, do not mince words even with their mother and sisters, and allow speech that is reprehensible in the opinion of Europeans. "Peoples of Russia"

And south of Guria, in the very southwest of Georgia, is Adjara. Its inhabitants, Adjarians, were called “Muslim Georgians” until the 1930s. Now they are considered an independent ethnic group of Georgians. The culture of the Adjarians is similar to the Laz, who live near the Turkish border. The Laz are Muslims, just like the Adjarians. Most of the Laz now live in Turkey.

The inhabitants of Adjara are almost the same as Gurians in type, costume, and language. The language of the population is also Georgian, close to the Imeretian-Gurian dialect, of course, not without an admixture of Turkish words. The Laz also belong to the Kartvelian race and are almost no different in type or costume from the Adjarians, but they speak a dialect very close to Mingrelian, at least the Mingrelians and Laz speak freely to each other. Adjarian and Laz men, with average and above average height, are excellently built, stately, slender and agile, their movements and manners are extremely attractive. Their eastern bow is especially graceful when, with a graceful and quick movement of the right hand, they lightly touch the forehead, then the heart, and then move the hand downwards from the chest, towards the ground, with a slight bow of the head. "Curious corners of the Caucasus"

The main grain plant in Adjara is corn, the breadwinner for most of the entire western Transcaucasia. “Chada,” an unleavened flatbread made from coarse corn flour and a piece of goat or sheep cheese, is the usual and almost the only food of the inhabitants. They sow much less wheat and barley; in some places, right on the seashore, they sow and cultivate rice. Gardens are a significant help for the population. Excellent fruits grow and ripen here magnificently, higher up - apples, pears, cherries, mulberries, lower down - peaches, pomegranates, figs, excellent grapes and olives. Never in the entire Transcaucasus have we seen one of the varieties of pears found in Adjara: in appearance more like an apple, thick at the stem and thin towards the toe, almost regularly hexagonal, full of oily juice, with an extraordinary taste and aroma... "Curious corners of the Caucasus"

And now from subtropical Adjara we will move to the north-west of Georgia, to the harsh mountainous Svaneti. The inhabitants of this region - the Svans, or Svaneti - are also very harsh. The Svans speak their own language, which, although belonging to the Kartvelian family, is significantly different from Georgian. Previously, the Svans were considered a separate nationality; now they are considered a subethnic group of Georgians.

Closed in the basin of the Caucasus ridge, Svaneti is considered one of the wildest places in the Caucasus, both in topographical terms and in relation to the morals of its inhabitants. Svaneti occupies a central position in the western Caucasus, so secluded and closed that this country seems like a separate island among an entire ocean of mountains. Such isolation had and has a great influence on the character, morals and customs of the people. Svanet is as inaccessible and wild as the nature that surrounds it. Access to Svaneti is only possible during the short summer and almost ceases during the long winter. "Peoples of Russia"

Svaneti is more populated and better cultivated than many of the mountain domains. The only source of food and wealth for the people is arable farming, and it must be said that the work of the farmer is sufficiently rewarded, although the Svanet are extremely lazy and therefore poor. The Svanet house is made of stone and consists of a large two-story building, whitewashed and with windows in the form of loopholes. The Svaneti like to build their houses on prominent hills near rocky cliffs in order to dominate the surrounding area. Their villages are spread out on terraces, on the slopes of mountains, and as they move further into the mountains and rise above sea level, they become more and more crowded. The house's wide side adjoins a high quadrangular tower, on four sides of which there are embrasures at the very top. The towers are divided into several floors, but do not belong to the houses of the entire Svaneti, and where the native does not need to hide under their protection, the towers are not built. Svanet lives in the winter in the lower floor of his house and drives his cattle there, and in the summer he moves to the upper floor. The inside of the room is poor. At the very entrance to the house, a small box made in the shape of a house hangs on hemp ropes, where cheese and fresh milk are stored. Almost every house has a vegetable garden where hemp and peas are sown; quadrangular and square arable land here and there is spread out near the village and surrounded by a fence. "Peoples of Russia"

Svanet spends his free time, and especially holidays, shooting and drinking. Drinking parties happen day and night, first for one, then for the other. Usually the owner’s house is filled with people who sit anywhere: some on the ground, some on benches arranged in the form of armchairs and sofas with carved backs. Women bake bread right there; the meat is cooked in cast iron cauldrons hung in a hut on iron hooks. Svanet food is simple and not varied. It consists of bread baked from rye flour in the form of lumps and without yeast, extremely salty cheese and arrack - a type of vodka distilled from millet. The essential entertainment of the Svaneti consists of gatherings and dancing. Their songs are rude, harsh and glorify war, folk heroes and hunting. For the most part they are rhymed and borrowed from the Imeretians. The wild and harsh nature of Svaneti has made its inhabitants no less harsh. They are some kind of remnant of ancient humanity, which has not been touched by a single speck of enlightenment. All residents are extremely attached to their native soil, and many of them rarely visit their neighbors. "Peoples of Russia"

The facial features of the Svanet resemble mountain Georgians. Residents are more than average height, slender and consider excessive fatness a vice, as a consequence of an intemperate life. Having a healthy appearance, Svanetis are mostly blond; they shave their beards, but leave a mustache; their hair is cut into brackets and shaved a little at the back. The women are also blond, less often with dark blond hair, blue eyes, a straight, oblong nose, a small mouth and in general the complexion of the face is quite regular. Nature has endowed the Svaneti with significant physical strength, good mental abilities, and quick thinking, but their range of information is extremely limited, as is their language. Not having their own written language, they use Georgian script. The moral side of character is a mixture of good and bad qualities. Svanet is extremely impressionable, remembers kindness, is grateful and always cheerful. He is hospitable, cordial, but loves begging and demands compensation for every minor service. Svaneti are chaste, true to their word and oath, but they are proud, vindictive, secretive and superstitious to the highest degree. Pride does not prevent them from having the lowest concept of themselves. The native does not hide his ignorance and his vices, and at the same time admits that he does not have the determination and willpower to correct himself. According to the concept of Svanet, a beauty is one who has broad shoulders, small legs, a full chest and a thin waist. To preserve the slender figure, some dress girls in their tenth year with raw leather from the hips to the chest. The girl remains in this position until the marriage bed, when the groom cuts this lacing with a dagger. "Peoples of Russia"

In the northeast of Georgia, near the border with Chechnya and Dagestan, we will find three more mountain peoples belonging to the Georgian ethnic group: Khevsurs, Tushins and Pshavs.

Pshavet is of medium height and strong build. Round face, brown eyes, brown hair, shaved head and beard, leaving a forelock on the head, similar to the one worn by Little Russians. The pshava has an important gait and a good-natured character. Pshavets is extremely wild, and not embarrassed by anyone’s presence, he does whatever he wants, without having any concept of modesty. Pshavian women are mostly blonde, pretty, and do not age as quickly as those of the Khevsurs, but they soon become fat. The Khevsurs call the Pshavs fat milk cows and oppress them. The claims of the Khevsurs against the Pshavs, presented in the courts, are as funny as they are absurd. In the neighborhood of Tushins and Khevsurs, the Pshavas live only in spring and summer, because they have their own hayfields and pastures there. In autumn and winter, they migrate far away from their homes, to where they find more pasture for their herds. "Peoples of Russia"

And at the end of the review of the peoples of Georgia - several scenes from the life of Tiflis. At the end of the 19th century, the Armenian population predominated in Tiflis, Russians were in second place, and Georgians were only in third...

In the next part of the review we will visit Eastern Transcaucasia, thereby completing our acquaintance with the peoples of the Caucasus.

History of Georgia (from ancient times to the present day) Vachnadze Merab

Origin (ethnogenesis) of Georgians

Problem origin (ethnogenesis) of Georgians is extremely complex and controversial. This is due to several reasons. The formation of any nation or any people is a long process that takes place in such a distant past that, naturally, there is no need to talk about any written sources testifying to the historical reliability of the origin of this or that people. Historical sources for studying the origins of a people are the reports of historians of a later period and their statements and thoughts on this topic. Some of this information is very dubious. In addition, there is no absolutely pure race, since ethnogenesis is a complex and lengthy process in which many tribes and nationalities participate.

This process sometimes involves completely different ethnic groups, which, although they undergo assimilation, but, for their part, influence indigenous people.

When studying the problem of ethnogenesis, they are of great importance archaeological, ethnographic And linguistic data and other materials. Analysis and comparison of existing sources do not always lead to an unambiguous conclusion. The question of the origin of Georgians has always been debatable, and even now it is not fully established, since there is no consensus or generally accepted theory on this issue.

1. Sources on ethnicitygenesis of Georgians. Georgians showed interest in their own origins back in ancient times. According to an 11th century Georgian historian Leontiu Mroveli, the Caucasian peoples had one ancestor - Targamos. He was the son But I and grandson Japheta. Targamos had 8 sons, who were considered the ancestors of all Caucasian peoples. The ancestor of the Georgians is considered Kartlos, son Targamos. It is clear that this theory is related to Noem: According to the Bible, the nations of the world are descendants of sons But I – Sima, Hama And Japheta. But something else is interesting, the main point of Leonti Mroveli’s theory about kinship of all CaucasiansChinese peoples and theirethniccheswhat community. Here it is necessary to take into account that the author of this theory is a figure of the 11th century. At that time, despite the difficult situation, the country's development was on the path to recovery. The ground was created not only for the unification of the country, but also for masteredthe unification of the Caucasian peoples under the banner of a united Georgia. The implementation of this task required ideological justification, which was partially served by the theory of Leonti Mroveli. Although, it is possible that there was a tradition or idea according to which the peoples of the Caucasus descended from one ancestor. Interesting information about the ethnogenesis and original location of the Georgians was preserved in the chronicle “Conversion of Kartli” (“Moktsevai Kartlisai"). After Mtskheta class, Azo goes to Arian Kartli and returns from there with his compatriots, whom he resettles in Kartli. Based on this information, the Georgians (more precisely, the indigenous inhabitants of Eastern Georgia) arrived from Arian Kartli. This refers to the territory of Eastern Georgia, which was part of Achaemenid Iran (the upper reaches of the Chorokhi River). It is interesting that the movement of individual Georgian tribes from the south towards Kartli is actually confirmed. Front sights (meskhs) from Anatolia they move in a northeastern direction to Kartli. On the path of their progress, you can now find the following names: Samtskhe (Sa-mtskhe, Sa-meskhta, Sa-meskhe) And Mtskheta (Mtskhe-ta, Mesk-ta).

We also find information about the origin of Georgians in foreign sources. Greek historian of the 5th century. BC e. Herodotus claimed that Colchians are descendants Egyptians. This statement has nothing to do with reality. Regarding the population Kartli, or Iberia, as the Greeks called it, then, according to the Greeks, they were from western Iberia, or Spain on Caucasus resettled by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The Greeks also called the Iberian Peninsula Iberia. It is assumed that this consideration was based on the identity of the names of these two geographical regions. Apparently, this point of view was also widespread among Georgians.

2. Scientific theories about the ethnogenesis of Georgians. Outstanding Georgian historian Ivane Javakhishvili put forward the idea of kinship of the Georgian people with the Caucasian peoples, because he believed that the Kartvelian languages ​​(Georgian, Mingrelo-Zan, Svan) are genetically related to other Caucasian languages ​​(Abkhaz-Adyghe and Veinakho-Dagestan). This point of view is generally accepted and widespread. Kartvelian And Caucasian languages form one group Iberian-Caucasian languages. Ivane Javakhishvili believed that Georgian and other cavasKaz tribes came from the south and settled Kavkaz step by step. This migration began in the 14th century BC. e. The last wave of Georgian tribes arrived in the Caucasus in the 7th century BC. However, after new archaeological excavations and obtaining new materials, this hypothesis lost its relevance.

On the issue of ethnogenesis of Georgians, Georgian scientist Simon Janashia expresses a different point of view. In his opinion, 5–6 thousand years ago, most of Western Asia, North Africa and Southern Europe (Iberian, Apennine and Balkan peninsulas) were inhabited by related peoples. Then they came to Europe Indo-Europeans who were influenced by these ancient peoples: Basque- in the Pyrenees, Etruscans- in the Apennines, Pelasgians- in the Balkans, Hittites And subarov- in Western Asia. Subars occupied the territory from Mesopotamia to Caucasus. Hittites And subars were the ancestors of the Georgians. In the 13th century BC, the population of Kheta-Subareti dispersed in different directions. Of these, the strongest tribes were flies And Tubals. Later, in the 11th–8th centuries BC, tribes Hittite-Subari formed a state Urartu.

After the fall of Urartu in the 6th century BC, a large state formation was formed on the territory of present-day Georgia - Iberia and even more intensified - Colha.

Simon Janashia does not report anything about the resettlement of tribes from the south, but points to the movement state And cultural center from south to north. All this took place over a large territory inhabited by people of the same origin. Hypothesis about the relationship between Georgians and Basque has its supporters and opponents. The relationship of the Georgian tribes with Hittites And Khurites.

In solving the problem of the ethnogenesis of Georgians, first of all, a large role belongs to archaeological materials, on the basis of which the continuous historical process of development of the Georgian tribes who lived in the Caucasus since ancient times can be traced.

3. Some aspects of the linguistic and ethnic processes of the Georgian people, the territory of historical residence.

The Georgian people have gone through a very long period of development and are one of the oldest peoples existing in modern times, distributed since ancient times over the vast territory of the Caucasus.

In modern science, starting with S.N. Janashia and B.A. Kuftin, as indicated, rejected the previously widespread opinion that the ancestors of the Georgian, as well as other Caucasian peoples, came to the Caucasus from the south, from Asia Minor only in the first half of the 1st millennium BC. Study of ancient Georgian names of plants, animals, etc. eras of existence common Kartvelian language basics (III millennium BC) or Georgian-Zan (Mingrelo-Chan) unity (2nd millennium BC) indicates that Georgian tribes already in this era lived on the territory of the Caucasus, in particular in its mountainous zone.

IN III millennium BC, existence is assumed the basis language of the Kartvelian languages, as well as the base languages ​​of other groups of Caucasian languages ​​(East Caucasian, i.e. Nakh-Dagestan, and West Caucasian, or Abkhaz-Adyghe languages). Some researchers believe that these groups of Caucasian languages ​​are related to each other, descending from one ancestor - a common base language, from which a number of ancient (now dead) Central Asian languages ​​(Sumerian, Proto-Hetian, Hurrian, Urartian, Elamite) originated through linguistic differentiation. , as well as the current Basque language, however, this hypothesis currently causes a very skeptical attitude towards itself on the part of many scientists and does not have a strictly scientific basis.

Researchers date the beginning of the collapse of the single language - the basis of the Kartvelian languages ​​- to the beginning II millennium BC. At this time, the first impulses were released Svan, the Kart-Zan (Mingrelo-Chan) linguistic unity that existed for a long time and after that apparently disintegrated in VIIIV. BC.

It should be noted that many lexical innovations of Kart (Georgian) and Megrelo-Chan, by which they jointly differ from Svan, could have arisen only in the era after the middle II millennium BC We are talking about the designation of technical and cultural achievements, which these tribes became familiar with only during the designated period, as well as lexical phenomena that appeared as a result of contact with the southern Hittite-Hurrian world.

Since the Kart-Zan group of Kartvelian tribes had contacts with the southern Near Asian world (Hittites, Hurri-Urartians), it apparently occupied the relatively southern regions of present-day Georgia and partly territories located even further south (in particular in northeastern Asia Minor, where subsequently we also find Kartvelian tribes). As for the Svan group, it is already in II millennium BC should be localized in northern part of the distribution of Georgian tribes, although at this time, as well as in the 1st millennium BC, they were apparently widespread not only in the mountainous, but also in the lowland parts of Western Georgia. In particular, the study of the ancient toponymy of this region leads us to this conclusion. For example, even the name “Lanchkhuti” is considered Svan. Svan etymology is found in the names of large centers - Sukhumi (Georgian Tskhumi - Wed Svan. Tskhum - rtskhila). An analysis of information from ancient writers also leads to the conclusion about the wide distribution of the Svan population on the territory of Western Georgia; It turns out, in particular, that the Svan element is implied mainly in the Geniokh tribes, often mentioned in ancient times in Western Georgia.

On the issue of the spread of Georgian tribes in a southern direction, one cannot help but draw on the material about the Asia Minor flies and tabals. They are known to be often mentioned first Assyrian inscriptions of the 8th–7th centuries.dabout AD In these tribes we can see individual Georgian tribes spreading far to the southwest. Having become largely Hettised, they (in particular the Mushki) later played a certain role in the emergence of East Georgian statehood.

Currently, Georgians, like many other peoples, have sub-ethnographic groups, in particular there are the following: Mingrelians, Kartlians, Kakhetians, Khevsurs, Pshavs, Tushins, Mtiuls, Mokhevians, Javakhis, Meskhis, Imeretians, Rachinians, Lechkhumis, Svans, Gurians, Adjarians, Ingiloys, Taois, Shavshets, Parkhals, Imerkhevs, etc.

The indicated names of Georgians, in fact, are connected and come from the name of one or another locality of their historical residence on the territory of Georgia (See attached "Map of the Main Historical Provinces of Georgia").

It should be noted that such sub-ethnographic groups of Georgians as Svans and Mingrelians, speaking the national and national Georgian language, also use Mingrelian and Svan languages, which constitute the invaluable linguistic and cultural wealth of the entire Georgian people.

Georgians have been widespread since ancient times, both within the modern borders of Georgia and across the wider territory of the borders of historical Georgia.

In particular, even now, ethnic Georgians (Parkhalians, Taoisians, Shavshetians, Imerkhevians, Adjarians, etc.) live, already in significantly reduced numbers, in the territories of “Tao-Klarjeti” in the historical part of Southwestern Georgia. These vast territories of Georgia with a Georgian population entered the state borders of the modern Republic of Turkey.

In addition, Georgian tribes from ancient times (in particular, the Khalibs, who are mentioned in the Bible as the creators of metallurgical culture) lived in the direction of the eastern part of Anatolia, in northeastern Asia Minor, covering the Pontic Mountains and nearby territories, which modern Republic of Turkey.

This territory is inhabited by the descendants of Georgian tribes, which are the current Laz (Chans), distributed along the Black Sea coast in its southeastern part, speaking (like the Mingrelian Georgians) a language related to the Georgian Mingrelo-Laz (Mingrelo-Chan) language, and are carriers of Kartvelian culture.

The so-called “Ingiloi”, a relatively small ethnic group of eastern Georgians, lives in the territory of the historical part of Eastern Georgia (Hereti), in the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan (modern Zagatala region).

Georgians, as evidenced by the Armenian historical chronicles (Favstos Buzand, Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi and others), traces of material culture, were also widespread in the original Georgian territories in the southern part of Georgia (Kvemo Kartli), in the regions of Lore and Tashiri, which now make up the northern part of the Republic of Armenia.

Currently, a significant number of ethnic Georgians live in Iran, in a number of its provinces Feyredan, Mazandaran, Gilan and others, forcibly resettled there from the Eastern part of Georgia (Kakheti-Hereti) at the beginning of the 17th century by the Iranian Shah Abass I. This group of Georgians , despite the fact that it has been located for a long time (about 400 years), far from its historical homeland, and in modern times, it retains its ethnic identity, Georgian language and culture.

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