The traditional systems of life subsistence of different ethnic groups in South-East Europe : a glimpse from Russia

Abstract

On the basis of many years’ research work on the countries of SouthEast Europe, using archives and literary sources, the author has come to the
conclusion that ethnic culture of the peoples of South-East Europe forms the
whole cultural mass, that does not, naturally, exclude the existence of local
variants. According to the author’s opinion all the region can be defined as
a single historico-ethnographic area. The culture of the peoples of South-East Europe is investigated within the bounds of those theoretical principles, that are followed now by Russian ethnologists (ethnographers, anthropologists). Considering such notions as “historico-ethnographic area”, “culture”, “traditional culture” and its com­ponent elements, special attention has been paid to the combination of the natural-geographic conditions and historical and social factors in the process of forming traditions, to the psychological aspects of the inclusion of innovations into traditional cultural complex. These problems are being solved
differently by the Russian scientists of our time, the author expresses here
her personal point of view.