The evolution of social organization in Abkhazia and Samurzakano in 1810-1870

The article describes the evolution of the social structure of Abkhazia and Samurzakano in 1810-1870-ies. The author draw a parallel with a similar process in the territory of Georgia. It reveals the role of the supreme power in these areas for the development of the social structure of the region. The materials were documents of the state archive of the Krasnodar territory introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the legislative acts of the Complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire. The study methods were the principles of objectivity, historicism, consistency and maximum possible neutrality of the relationship of the researcher to interpret and evaluate the factual material. The historico-comparative method is of great importance in the work, like others, it is not of a general nature, moreover, its application is substantially limited. Therefore, the comparison needs to be applied in complex two opposite forms. This comparison was conducted when comparing the same cycle on two neighboring areas, which are located under the authority of the ruler, and the second under the rule of the Russian administration. In conclusion, it is noted that the period of 1810-1870-ies became a period of economic stagnation for Abkhazia and Samurzakano. The reasons for this were not the some inherent weakness of the ruler of Abkhazia Mikhail Shervashidze, but his course on the traditional way of life. Mikhail Shervashidze simply didn't want to change anything in the structure of society. He was quite satisfied with the nobility, the gods, serfs and slaves, only in such a system of values the ruler was needed as the supreme authority. At the same time, for the development of capitalist relations, both in the city and in the countryside, a completely different tooling was required. This toolkit was effectively tested on another neighboring territory, on the territory of Georgia. © 2017 by Sochi State University.