Daghestan: Tradition and Survival

by Robert Chenciner

Overview

Daghestan is home to more than 30 distinct peoples. Each has their own language yet they share a surprisingly homogeneous culture that has both withstood and absorbed centuries of external influences. A fascinating account of change and adaptation in the villages of this area.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415406086
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/04/2006
Series:	Caucasus World
Pages:	324
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Foreword Map of villages. Introduction: survival and tradition 2. Kung-fu in the evenings: the strongman cult 3. Inventing the wheelbarrow: women and sex in the mountains 4. A way to be born 5. ... and a way to die 6. King Khosrows' dumplings: food & feasts 7. Familiar surroundings 8. ... and cosmic-domestic textiles 9. Capes, masks & costumes 10. Fighting dogs and magic beasts 11. The society of godless zealots 12. The secret garden of Botlikh 13. New nationalism for old nations 14. Afterword: Daghestan avoids violence & the Russian-Chechen War

Editorial Reviews

A British scholar of Asian art and culture reports on his search for non-Soviet features of life in the north eastern Caucasus that is home to 32 distinct peoples and languages. He tends to focus on textiles, architecture, and food, exploring such topics as the strongman cult, women and sex, King Khorsor's dumplings, capes and masks, fighting dogs and magic beasts, and new nationalism. An afterword explains how Daghestan sat out of the Chechen war. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

'The author is a great story-teller, relating with enthusiasm about his travelling. "Daghestan: tradition and survival" can be seen as a first step, encouraging us to study the languages, culture, traditions and politics of this area in further detail.' - Helma van den Berg, Bibliotheca Orientalis

From the Publisher