The Circassians: The Turbulent History of the Ethnic Group in the North Caucasus

Circassia could be broadly split into a western and eastern region. Eastern Circassia was inhabited by Kabardians who mainly spoke Kabardian while Western Circassia was made up of Adyghe, who spoke the eponymously-named Adyghe. As a result, discussions about the Circassians tend to split the geography of Circassia into two portions: Eastern Circassia, or Kabardia, and Western Circassia, or Adyghe. Geographically, Kabardia was situated in the middle segment of the Caucasian peninsula, with ...