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Toasting Georgia's Memory and Future
| Article
# : |
17525 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
7 / 1990 |
2,151 Words |
| Author
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Paul J. Magnarella
Paul J. Magnarella is professor of anthropology and Middle
Eastern Studies at the University of Florida. |
From the Baltic to the Ukraine, from the Caucasus to Central Asia, the forceful demands of non-Russians for political autonomy are shaking the foundations of the Soviet Empire. The peoples of the Georgian S.S.R. are among those currently shouting for freedom from Moscow. Although Georgia has been part of the Soviet Union since 1921, its people have never lost their special national identity or their reverence for Georgian history, religion, and culture.
A country of majestic mountains, a misty sea coast, and picturesque valleys, Georgia is located between the southeastern shore of the Black Sea and the Caspian lowlands. With 26,900 square miles of land and 5.24 million people, Georgia is one of the smallest of the fifteen Soviet Republics. Economically and culturally, however, it is among the richest. Its mineral and energy wealth include ample supplies of manganese, marble, coal, oil, and natural gas. Agriculturally, it boasts high grade tobacco, viticulture (with over 120 wineries), and extensive tea production, supplying 95 percent of the USSR's total needs. The mild Black Sea climate gives Georgians n advantage over other Soviet farmers. Every spring, winter-weary Russians seek out infamous Georgian entrepreneurs who illegally peddle their home-grown tangerines and flowers on the still snowy streets of Moscow.
Historic Background
Of all the people living in the Transcaucasian region (between the Black and Caspian Seas), the Georgians claim the oldest political tradition; they also boast a unique alphabet dating back to the fifth century. They call themselves Kartvelni (singular, Kartveli) and their homeland Sakartvelo. The
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