Exploring the Caucasus: Histories, Identities, and Contemporary Challenges

Catalog description

Did you know the term “Caucasian” comes from this region? Or that the blockbuster film Dune borrowed “Chakobsa” spoken by Fremen and Atreides from a real Circassian hunting language (shakobze) spoken in the North Caucasus? Or that the Caucasus is home to some of the most dominant UFC and MMA fighters in the world—names like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Ali Bagov—whose fighting traditions draw from long-standing martial cultures of the region? The Caucasus region—named after the towering Caucasus Mountains—is one of the most ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse areas in the world. It comprises three independent countries in the South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) and multiple republics in the North Caucasus that are part of the Russian Federation. This multiethnic and multireligious region is home to numerous indigenous peoples and unrecognized territories, shaped by complex histories of empire, colonization, and conflict. Often viewed narrowly through the lens of the Russian Empire or ongoing conflicts, the Caucasus merits examination on its own terms. This course introduces students to the region's rich histories, vibrant cultural traditions, and contemporary challenges. Through short readings, multimedia resources, guest lectures, and creative projects like contributing to our course podcast “Focus on the Caucasus,” students will develop a critical understanding of how the Caucasus has been imagined and represented globally. No prior knowledge is required.