Cross-Cultural Encounters on the Ukrainian Steppe: Settling the Molochna Basin, 1784-1861 (Tsarist and Soviet Mennonite Studies)

A regional history of colonization and adaptation in southern Ukraine, Cross-Cultural Encounters on the Ukrainian Steppe examines how diverse agrarian groups, faced with common environmental, economic, and administrative conditions, followed sharply divergent paths of development. Using a wide variety of sources, including local Ukrainian and Russian archives never before examined by a western scholar, John Staples compares and contrasts how the Mennonites, Nogais, Russians, Ukrainians, and other groups transformed their environments and adapted to life in the Molochna Valley. Staples contends that the allocation and use of land formed a central hub around which public life in Molochna revolved, and determined the success or failure of each group. Ultimately, he concludes, it was the settlers, not the state, who decided how they would adapt to the arid southern Ukrainian steppe. Perhaps most importantly, Staples makes a major contribution to the investigation of how peasant groups can emerge from their traditionalist mentality and life-style as the Mennonites of Molochna did. His thoughtful analysis will be a welcome addition to the study of both Tsarist peasant history and Russian and Ukrainian agricultural and peasant history. A regional history of colonization and adaptation in southern Ukraine, __Cross-Cultural Encounters on the Ukrainian Steppe__ examines how diverse agrarian groups, faced with common environmental, economic, and administrative conditions, followed sharply divergent paths of development. Using a wide variety of sources, including local Ukrainian and Russian archives never before examined by a western scholar, John Staples compares and contrasts how the Mennonites, Nogais, Russians, Ukrainians, and other groups transformed their environments and adapted to life in the Molochna Valley. Staples contends that the allocation and use of land formed a central hub around which public life in Molochna revolved, and determined the success or failure of each group. Ultimately, he concludes, it was the settlers, not the state, who decided how they would adapt to the arid southern Ukrainian steppe. Perhaps most importantly, Staples makes a major contribution to the investigation of how peasant groups can emerge from their traditionalist mentality and life-style as the Mennonites of Molochna did. His thoughtful analysis will be a welcome addition to the study of both Tsarist peasant history and Russian and Ukrainian agricultural and peasant history. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Contents 6 List of Tables 8 List of Maps and Figures 10 Acknowledgments 12 Note on Terminology, Orthography, and Transliteration 14 Glossary of Russian Weights and Measures 16 1 Introduction 26 2 Colonization and Administrative Policy 41 3 Adaptation on the Land-Rich Steppe, 1783–1833 68 4 The Great Drought of 1832–1834 110 5 Johann Cornies and the Birth of a New Mennonite World View 130 6 The Path Taken by the Orthodox State Peasants: Land Repartition 167 7 Consolidation and Alienation 188 8 Conclusion 202 Appendix 210 Notes 218 Bibliography 256 Index 266 Note On Terminology, Orthography, And Transliteration -- Glossary Of Russian Weights And Measures -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Colonization And Administrative Policy -- 3. Adaptation On The Land-rich Steppe, 1783-1833 -- 4. The Great Drought Of 1832-1834 -- 5. Johann Cornies And The Birth Of A New Mennonite World View -- 6. The Path Taken By The Orthodox State Peasants: Land Repartition -- 7. Consolidation And Alienation -- 8. Conclusion. John R. Staples. Based On The Author's Thesis (ph.d.)--university Of Toronto. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [233]-242) And Index. In a regional history of colonization and adaptation in southern Ukraine, Staples examines how diverse agrarian groups, faced with common environmental, economic, and administrative conditions, followed sharply divergent paths of development.