The Altai Cossacks family in the 19th - early 20th centuries: sociocultural and historical Aspects

Abstract

The article is devoted to a brief history of Siberian Cossacks in Altai. The exploration of Altai by the Siberian Cossacks was conditioned by the political and economic interests of the Russian state. It needed to protect the southern borders of Siberia from aggressive attacks of the Dzungarian Khanate and to develop the natural resources of the Altai, primarily the ore deposits. During the development of this territory, the Cossack family was the basis of Cossack’s life, a kind of financial, spiritual, and cultural center. When we considered transforming the Cossack family, we took into account the historical and sociocultural context. Various aspects describing the Cossack family are supported by statistical research data, in particular the 1917 agricultural census, a unique document that presents questionnaires of 95% of the Cossack households. An important place is given to the description of the rites and wedding customs of the Altai Cossacks, in which the traditions of Russian national culture are manifested.