Issues of the Economic Adaptation and Everyday Life of the Assyrians in Georgia

Abstract

The article discusses the main issues related to the economic adaptation and everyday life of the Assyrians living in Georgia. The aim of the study is to present the history of migration of the Assyrian community in Georgia, their economic activities, traditional lifestyle, and the process of integration into the Georgian ethnocultural environment. The research is based on historical sources, ethnographic literature, periodicals, and field ethnographic materials.

The article examines the historical background of the settlement of Assyrians in Georgia and the waves of migration, with particular attention given to the village of Kanda in the Mtskheta Municipality as the main Assyrian settlement in Georgia. The process of their economic adaptation is analyzed, which was expressed through the adoption of local agricultural practices, viticulture and winemaking, livestock breeding, and traditional rural economic technologies. At the same time, the study demonstrates that despite integration into the Georgian environment, the Assyrians have preserved significant elements of their ethnic identity, including language, religious traditions, rituals, celebrations, and traditional cuisine.

The research reveals that the economic adaptation of the Assyrians in Georgia represents a successful adjustment to local natural and economic conditions, achieved alongside the preservation of their ethnocultural identity. This process clearly reflects the characteristics of ethnic minority integration and cultural sustainability in Georgia.