"'The Land is Spoiled By Water': Cossack Colonisation in the North Caucasus"

Barrett, Thomas M. | from Multimedia Library Collection:
Environment and History (journal)

Barrett, Thomas M. “ ‘The Land is Spoiled By Water’: Cossack Colonisation in the North Caucasus.” Environment and History 5, no. 1 (Feb., 1999): 27–52. doi:10.3197/096734099779568425. A frontier environmental history of Cossack settlers in the North Caucasus reveals some of the weaknesses of the Russian imperial mission. Cossacks transformed the landscape of settlement through deforestation and canalisation; the resulting floods and disease regime put severe limits on their ability to be economic colonisers or cultural assimilators. In many respects, the land proved to be a tougher enemy than the mountain people whom they were sent to conquer. All rights reserved. © 1999 The White Horse Press