Southwestern Georgia of the 19th Centuries in the Opinion of Foreigners: Analysis of Archival Materials

Abstract

The historical fate of one of the most critical regions, Southwestern Georgia, is indeed remarkable. This powerful centre of Georgian civilisation, with its historical plight, was forcibly torn off a mother’s bosom and became a part of another state. However, its inhabitants managed to preserve the love and respect for their native language. As a result of the war between Russia and Turkey (1877–1878), the region was reunited with its native land. Still, this time the Caucasian administration of the Russian Empire began to impede its development and tried to set this side against the rest of Georgia. According to Russian officials, it was to become an essential military outpost of Russian expansion in the Middle East and a springboard for the far-reaching plans of the empire. Foreigners were also interested in this region of Georgia. They repeatedly visited this area and left us remarkable materials about the political, social, economic, cultural and educational life of South-West Georgia of that time (i.e., 19th centuries).