Formation and development factors of Altai ethno-cultural landscapes

Abstract

In the article major factors of culture genesis in the Altai Mountains are analyzed. Natural and social laws of formation and evolution of the Altai’s ethno-cultural landscapes are revealed. Ten basic factors in the formation and development of the ethno-cultural landscapes of the Altai have been identified through the joint application of natural-scientific and humanitarian research methods. Such are the High landscape diversity, the Naturally caused low population of Altai, the Barrier and contact role of the Altai Mountains, the External expansion, the Natural isolation of the Altai geo-cultural space, the Natural environment dynamics in Altai and adjacent contiguous territories, the State regulation of economic activity, the Change in the geoeconomical and geopolitical situation of the region, the Change in market conditions, the Change in the traditional worldview of the local population. According to the results of the work, it is determined that the culture genesis of Altai is largely determined by natural factors. Now in the Altai Mountains there is a great variety of ethno-cultural landscapes, the laws of development of which are related both to the features of the environment and to social processes. The isolation and inaccessibility of the Altai Mountains territory, its remoteness from civilizational centers, significant internal differentiation determine the low intensity of processes cultural diffusion, and significant sustainability and the preservation of traditional ethno-cultural landscapes. Globalization processes lead to simplification and unification structure of the Altai’s geo-cultural space and loss of cultural diversity.