Die Krim: Kulturlandschaft und Kulturwandel in einem russischen Expansionsraum

Abstract

The Crimea peninsula is a European region which presently is in the public limelight due to its political situation. The Crimea presents not only a clearly structured but also greatly variable landscape. The steppe-type Crimea in the north and the upland-type Crimea with its Mediterranean climate south coast are the dominating largest landscapes. Their utilization as a cultivation area is historically traceable to the Scythian, Gothic and Greek periods. So far the Crimea experienced several cultural changes. The first change was caused by the Mediterranean civilizations (Greece, Genoa, Byzantium), the second by the Tatar invasion, followed by its integration into the Ottoman empire. Christian and Muslim cultural traditions mingled with each other during that period. Its incorporation into the Russian empire during the modern era brought profound changes in the cultural landscape, in the population composition, in the manner of live and of pursuing economic affairs. The historical development is indispensable for the understanding of the Crimea’s present position. The region is now searching for new development perspectives after the changes of its political affiliation. Although it is a constituant of the Ukraine, the traditional relationships with Russia are just as decisive now as ever before. It becomes apparent that the historical development as a Russian expansion area and the geostrategical position have determined the regional development so far. This makes its efforts for reintegration into the Russian union of states quite understandable.