Present meets Past in the Caucasus – Class Thursday 12/3

“To a considerable extent, today’s war in Chechnya seems a replay of Imam Shamil’s jihad of 150 years ago only because both sides read Tolstoy at school and build their expectations on imagery from the past.”

— Georgi Derluguian

For this final unit of the course we will examine the cultural frameworks that inform the history of Russia’s involvement in Chechnya. On Thursday we will finish watching Sergei Bodrov’s film “Prisoner of the Mountains” and discuss the following readings. Please read these materials before class and bring them to class with you. There will be a quizz and you will need your book.

Readings:

Leo Tolstoy, “Prisoner in the Caucasus” (18pp)

Georgi Derlugian, “Chechnya – A brief Explanation” (RR 281-292)

Idris Bazorkin, “Evening Prayers” (RR 293-302)

Image: Dmitrii Moore, “To The People of the Caucasus” (1918)