SOME FEATURES OF SILK PRODUCTION PRACTICE IN COSSACK VILLAGES OF THE TEREK LEFT BANK IN 1830s

Abstract

The article, which is based on the evidence of contemporaries and archives, studies the reasons for reduction of silk output in Cossack's communities of the Terek left bank in the 30s of the XIX century. The dynamics of the process and attempts of authorities to correct the situation are shown. The scientific novelty of the work is in the reference to archives, which have not been previously unused. The authors specify statistic information connected to cultivation of mulberry trees and the quantity of the produced silk. The emphasis is made on the difficulties faced by the Cossacks during military and political opposing on the North Caucasus. Those challenges distracted the able-bodied population from tackling household tasks and prevented from being engaged in silkworm breeding effectively since it demanded specialization. Unfavourable climatic conditions also played their role.

Keywords

• silk
• plantations
• villages
• military-political situation
• weather conditions
• production
• mulberry trees
• fair