ANABAPTISTS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS COLONIZATION IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH - EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

The authors consider main reasons for the Anabaptist movement to the mountainous regions of the North Caucasus in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century. Special attention is given to the “Statute on the Colonies of foreigners in the Empire”, published in 1857, which provided not only benefits and privileges, but also the duties of colonists. The article is devoted to the study of the economic sphere of Mennonites, taking into account the local conditions of mountainous areas, their huge contribution to the improvement of socio-economic reforms of the region, identifying the adaptation peculiarities of settlers to the religious characteristics of local communities.