Этногенез и регионогенез в становлении исторической Кабардино-Балкарии

Abstract

On the path towards a comprehensive historical understanding of the diverse Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, it is crucial to develop an unbiased and compelling scholarly interpretation of the region's origins. The interplay between ethnogenesis and the genesis of the region itself holds great signifi-cance in this endeavor. This article aims to present the primary findings of a study on the ethnopolit-ical history of the Central Caucasus during antiquity and the Middle Ages, with the goal of offering a holistic understanding of Kabardino-Balkaria's genesis as a historical entity. The analysis reveals the lack of a universally accepted consensus within the scientific community regarding any major aspect of the ethnic and ethnopolitical history of the Central Caucasus. Nonetheless, the literature examined does not dispute the autochthonous nature of the Adyghe and Karachay-Balkarian ethnic communities, which encompass the Kabardians and Balkars respectively, acknowledging their deep-rootedness in the region of the Central and North-Western Caucasus. An overly individualistic ap-proach to their historical roots would narrow our perspective on the complexity of historical reality. Conversely, a spatial approach allows us to identify not only cultural elements associated with each ethnic group, but also the interactions, interconnections, and cultural exchanges between them. The formation of Kabarda and Balkaria is not merely the result of the ethnohistorical development of their immediate ancestors, but rather a consequence of the political processes that unfolded in the Central Caucasus, marked by shifts in political dominance. The events occurring towards the end of the 14th century facilitated the emergence of Kabarda and Balkaria as independent ethno-socio-territorial entities, unfolding simultaneously in the flat-foothill and mountainous zones of the Cen-tral Caucasus. The natural and geographical conditions of the territories occupied by Kabardian and Balkar societies laid the foundation for a close and enduring economic, socio-political, and cultural connection. This gave rise to a distinct spatial-temporal entity - the historical Kabardino-Balkaria.