Annals of Agrarian Science xxx (2017) 1e4

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Annals of Agrarian Science

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The agrarian zones of according to the map by Ivane

* Davit Sartania, Nikolaishvili , Avtandil Ujmajuridze, Gia Chkhikvishvili

Ivane Javakhishvili State University, 3, Ave., Tbilisi, 0128, Georgia article info abstract

Article history: The Map of Botanical-Agrarian Areas of Georgia compiled by Ivane Javakhishvili in 1930 is much valuable Received 9 March 2017 to study not only the ancient economic relations on the territory of our country, but the political history, Accepted 29 May 2017 as well, as the political and economic history are closely interwoven, and it is the natural environment Available online xxx and the style of the economic life of the country having formed Georgia as one body. The article shows the economic links, which, in the opinion of Ivane Javakhishvili, made for the formation of the statehood Keywords: of Georgia. As the Map shows, there are 6 botanical-agrarian areas in Georgia with different natural Agrarian zones environments and agricultural destinations: a Pomelo-and-Bitter Orange, Rice-Cotton, vineyard-and- Grape varieties Traditional agriculture fruity, non-vineyard-or-fruity, Grass-Flowery and Winter Pastures. In the view of Ivane Javakhishvili, in Grass-flowery the ancient times, the demarcation of the mountains and lowland was done both, in the geographical and agricultural respects. Therefore, the identification of the areas of the mountains and plains (and consequently, the nature of some or other plants, animals, settled areas, economic activities, etc.) in the old sources, the ancient practice of drawing hypsometric boundaries between them (however, with some exceptions) must be taken into account. © 2017 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Agricultural University of Georgia. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Introduction achievements and significant experience in the field of economy learned not only from their neighbors, but their enemies, as well. Ivane Javakhishvili paid particular attention to the study of the Similarly, the Georgian agriculture has contributed much to the history of economic development of the country. He considered the economies of other nations” [1] Ivane Javakhishvili realized the cultivation of wild plants and domestication of animals as a part of importance of exploring the past economic picture and dedicated a the societal culture and stated: “The study of all these matters ex- number of papers to this kind of study. However, the heritage the tends and deepens the history of a man's culture” [1]. In his works, great scientist handed down to us has not been realized in full even he tried to show the nature of the economic activities followed by to date and neither are the geographical aspects of this issue the Georgian nation in the given geographical region since the evaluated. ancient times. As he concludes, this kind of economic culture was The Map of Botanic-Agronomic Areas of Georgia by Ivane Jav- the result of concrete geographical conditions what on its turn, has akhishvili is one of the most important sources giving us an idea led to the ethnic consolidation of the Georgian nation and devel- about the study of the agrarian zones of Georgia and the economic opment of the statehood of the country. In one of his works, Ivane links in ancient Georgia. Javakhishvili wrote: “The life of the Georgian nation was not confined to the political, social or cultural arena only, but the people Research area have made selfless efforts in farming, as well … If to date, we talked about the stories of battles with foreigners, now we clearly see that The article considers “The Map of Botanic-Agronomic Areas of we had economic relations with them, too, and despite the political Georgia according to Old Sources” compiled by Ivane Javakhishvili battles with them, the have favored from the useful enclosed to the second edition of his work, “The Economic History of Georgia” [2]. The map was compiled by using old sources: the

* Corresponding author. documentary materials, historical-literary works and cartographic E-mail address: [email protected] (D. Nikolaishvili). works. However, these works do not describe the agronomic zones Peer review under responsibility of Journal Annals of Agrarian Science. of Georgia individually, and the author had to collect and classify http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aasci.2017.05.025 1512-1887/© 2017 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Agricultural University of Georgia. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Please cite this article in press as: D. Sartania, et al., The agrarian zones of Georgia according to the map by Ivane Javakhishvili, Annals of Agrarian Science (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aasci.2017.05.025 2 D. Sartania et al. / Annals of Agrarian Science xxx (2017) 1e4 some scattered data. One of the principal sources used by the As the study by Ivane Javakhishvili suggests, the major territory author was the composition by Vakhushti Bagrationi “The of Georgia is mostly spread in the basins of three rivers e the Description of the ” [3]. Mtkvari, Chorokhi and . This area is versatile with its natural As a rule, a general geographic basis for such maps is mainly conditions, and the three of its parts differ much from one another. orographic-hydrographic units, and administrative units (regions, Consequently, the diversified agro-botanical conditions of our provinces, communities, etc.) to the less extent. The network of country are based on these natural conditions, and the lives of the rivers plotted on the map facilitates the apprehension of the ter- Georgians in these areas are different and versatile. Despite such a ritorial distribution of the agrarian areas. There are total 4 difference and diversity, the Georgians are one nation and Georgia orographic units (Ialbuzi (a mountain), Leketi Mountains, Rkinis is one cultural and political body. However, despite such versatility, Palo (a mountain) and Tsiv-Gombori Mountains). historically, one economic “body” was formed here as a mutual The use of administrative units as a general geographical basis necessary economic tool for the peoples living in such a diversified for such a map must be explained by one important fact: Ivane environment. Javakhishvili wrote the history of the Georgian nation based on the Iv. Javakhishvili, when describing the history of the Georgian premises of the economic development. He realized that the po- nation, considered the territory of the country as one body, which litical and economic histories were interwoven and it was the “is bordered with natural barriers (mountains and rivers), and as natural environment and the style of the economic life having the unit containing the basins of the rivers Mtkvari, Chorokhi and formed the country as one body. Rioni, is geographically and economically closely related” [1].Itwas The following objects are plotted on the map: rivers, lakes, main the diversity of the natural conditions of Georgia that helped roads, capitals, cities and towns, villages and settlements, etc. e establish different agricultural specializations on the territory of total of 202 toponyms, with most of them being oicononimies, with Georgia since the ancient times; in particular, the vineyard-and- 67 names of villages and settlements and 42 names of the towns fruity area on the lowland of West Georgia, alternating by non- and cities. There are total 52 administrative units on the map. It is vineyard-or-fruity and pomelo-and-bitter orange areas at some clear that the number of the mapped toponyms within the limits of locations. As for the vineyard-and-fruity area on the lowland of East Georgia much exceeds the number of those beyond Georgia. Georgia, it is replaced by winter pastures in the extreme eastern The map is valuable in many respects (it shows a historical part of the region, while there are non-vineyard-or-fruity and border of the country, settled areas, old geographical names, major grass-flowery areas spread in the mountains, with the cattle- lines of communication, etc.). It, together with the “Economic His- breeding as the leading branch of economy. Thus, “Owing to the tory of Georgia”, allows realizing the author's evaluation of the agro- different agricultural and botanical areas, the communities did not economic potential of Georgia. In addition, its study in a botanical- and could not have everything needed by their members. The agrarian view must be accented. Ivane Javakhishvili did not have dwellers of the mountainous areas could not have their own wine any special agrarian education. Despite this, “The Economic History or fruit, while the lowlanders must have envied the highlanders for of Georgia” and “The Map of Botanic-Agronomic Areas of Georgia their wheat and flour. according to Old Sources” by him clearly evidence that he was a Besides, the small cattle could not bear cold winters, or snowy thoroughly educated scientist, proficient both, in the economic and conditions and lack of grass in the mountains. Consequently, a the agrarian questions. As N. Ketskhoveli noted, “After Vakhushti cattle-breeder dwelling in the mountains could not retain cattle in (since 1742) to the end of the first quarter of the XX century, no one his community in winter, but needed warm lowland places with has described the zoning of the cultural plants of Georgia as thor- winter pastures for his cattle. On their turn, the dwellers of the ough as Ivane Javakhishvili. If the researchers of the even lowland could not leave their cattle in their communities in sum- wrote about this issue, their writings were either casual, or were mer, as sheep hardly bear the summer heat and deficient pastures” dedicated to a certain species or group of cultural plants, or [1]. mentioned in connection to some other issue” [4]. Based on the above-mentioned, Ivane Javakhishvili concluded However, the value of the Map in a narrow view of the thematic that the lowlanders and highlanders needed one another: “They content must not be seen according to the botanical-agrarian areas cannot live without one another,” and their co-existence became only. Ivane Javakhishvili's view goes far beyond this limit. The Map possible right owing to the natural conditions” [1]. allows specifying the tradition of agro-economic activities in Based on the analysis of the consolidation of the Georgian Georgia by using the botanical-agrarian zones. This, on its turn, not nation and formation of the Georgian state and whole set of factors, only gives us an idea about the economic relations, but is valuable Iv. Javakhishvili made a logical and laconic conclusion: “Under the information in respect of the study of the history of the country. impact of these geo-botanical and economic factors and based on Based on the analysis of old sources, Iv. Javakhishvili concluded that the tribal relationship of the Georgians, and in the “The study of all the data given below on its own and in conjunction first instance, as the area of the river Mtkvari basin … were formed with the map, will thoroughly consider the prospects of agricultural as one state body and became one kingdom, and only then did the economy and will clarify a number of important issues of both, the west and east Georgia unite” [5]. economic and the political history for Georgia. Even some general By showing this general picture, the scientist demonstrated the view of the botanical-geographical and agrarian areas will give a course of natural development of the economic links between the man a very interesting picture …” [1]. different corners of Georgia making the whole area a single, In his works, Ivane Javakhishvili talks about the importance of interdependent and thus, indispensable unit. This, in the final run, the agrarian and economic factors in establishing the statehood of made for the consolidation of the people dwelling in the area as one the country. This also means that statehood is not a phenomenon whole, i.e. one nation. Moreover, all these factors determined the limited to the political-legal frames only, but is also a field of eco- state formation of the nation, and it was the political spectrum of nomic activity. To be more exact, there is no statehood without such this economic issue. an activity. The scientist expressed these views in 1930, i.e. when Georgia was joining the USSR and its statehood was a fiction. Agrarian zones according to the map However, this fact did not prevent him from writing these words, as every public figure is obliged to hope for the future. The study map shows 6 botanical-agrarian areas, which are

Please cite this article in press as: D. Sartania, et al., The agrarian zones of Georgia according to the map by Ivane Javakhishvili, Annals of Agrarian Science (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aasci.2017.05.025 D. Sartania et al. / Annals of Agrarian Science xxx (2017) 1e4 3 described in an agricultural view by Iv. Javakhishvili: one of the most important arguments for that: “In the economy of ancient Georgia and in agriculture first of all, vine-growing and 1. A Pomelo-and-Bitter Orange area wine-making were particularly important. The supremacy of this 2. A Rice-Cotton area branch for the high life quality and material well-being of the 3. A Vineyard-and-Fruity area Georgian nation is seen by a noteworthy fact implying that the 4. A non-Vineyard-or-Fruity area division of the land into two principal geographical and botanical- 5. A Grass-Flowery area, and agrarian parts e the lowland and the highland e as we are sure, was 6. Winter Pastures. based on the vine-growing principle … The composition by Vakhushti evidences that an accepted practice in Georgia to divide The Pomelo-and-Bitter Orange botanical-agrarian area oc- the country into two parts e the plain and the mountains since the cupies the least area of all. It is presented as small fragments in the ancient times, together with the geographical peculiarities, implied zone of Kolkheti Valley e in Apkhazeti, and Ajara near the the division of the territory of the country into two botanical and coast; in the lower reaches of the river Chorokhi on the agricultural zones. The feature of the mountainous zones was the southern sea coastline plains e on Kakhaberi and Gonio Plains, lack of vineyards and fruit and little yield of cereals, while that of forming relatively larger and continuous area in Erge and Ligani the lowland zone was the rich harvest of grapes, fruit and good crop gorges. Such a distribution means that pomelo and bitter orange capacity in general …” [1]. grew almost everywhere in the southern part of Kolkheti Valley, The study of the old vine varieties in Georgia is very important and as fragments in its central and northern parts. This is the area for the different branches of science. Quite often, it allows clarifying where subtropical cultures grow where the favorable orographic, the most important issues concerning the botanists and specialists climatic and soil conditions yielded rich harvest of these crops. of ampelography, vine-growing specialists, historical economists, The Rice-Cotton botanical-agrarian area spreads only in the linguists and geographers. lowland of both, west and east Georgia. However, “The major areas In the opinion of Iv. Javakhishvili, the delimitation of the low- of rice and cotton were traditionally considered Kukheti lowland, land and mountains in the past was done not only for geographical, the other side of it, mostly Eniseli and the river banks in Gare but for agricultural reasons as well. Therefore, when identifying the …” [1]. The area covered the left bank of the river , distribution areas of the lowlands and mountains given in old both banks of the lower reaches of the river Iori and the territory of sources (and therefore, some or other plant or animal species, or within the limits of -Ialghuja-Khunani. As one nature of a settled area or economic activity, etc.), one should small fragment, this area is presented in the middle course of the consider the old practice of drawing hypsometric borders between river Iori, near the present-day city of . Thus, this botanical- them. However, the exceptions must be taken into account. In agrarian area mostly spread in Kakheti and Kartli. “In Kartli, rice particular, for , Vakhushti Bagratoni noted: “Lechkhumi and cotton grew only in Kvemo Kartli lowland, in particular, in is a mountainous place, but is famous for good harvest of grapes, Debeda valley, from the river Mtkvari mouth in valley to fruit and cereals” [4]. So, as Vakhushti says, Lechkhumi is a Ialghuja and from Nakhiduri to Najbadina in Ktsia valley” [1].Itis mountainous location, but despite this, the people there gather rich noteworthy that these two crops, which grew in certain zones in harvest of grapes and fruit. the past, virtually, today are not grown at any location of Georgia. The non-vineyard-or-fruity botanical-agrarian area spreads In “The Economic History of Georgia”, Ivane Javakhishvili re- both, in west and east Georgia forming an almost continuous area. ports them in and Guria [5] In addition, following the high It covers the zone of the middle mountain within the limits of the value of these agricultural crops grown in Chaneti, one of the his- mountainous areas of the Caucasioni and the Lesser Caucasioni. The torical corners of Georgia, Ivane Javakhishvili wished the agrono- only exception is the environs of the lower reaches of the river mists would pay particular attention to Chani and Odishian rice, Rioni, around the city of , where the non-vineyard-or-fruity and identify its essence and value. region is presented as a small fragment. From north, it is Iv. Javakhsihvili had a very interesting opinion about rice bordered by the rice-cotton botanical-agrarian area and from east growing in west Georgia. He assumed that following the favorable and south, it is bordered by vineyard-fruit botanical-agrarian area. climatic and soil conditions, the culture of rice must have been Regarding the stretch of this area, Iv. Javakhishvili made one very widely spread in this area since the ancient past rather than having interesting conclusion: “In west Georgia, the non-vineyard-or- come from east Georgia. In evidence of his opinion, he cites the data fruity area was much lesser due to the local natural conditions of the authors of the XVII and XVIII centuries stating that “Growing and climate than in Amereti. Here, the non-vineyard-or-fruity zone rice in Samegrelo must have a long history and was widely spread covered mostly the upper mountainous zone of Ghado and Guria there” [1]. and Shkmeri in , as well as Jejora gorge up Kudaro, Rioni The vineyard-and-fruity botanical-agrarian area spread over gorge up Chidrota and mountainous areas and finally, of much greater areas both, over west and east Georgian lowlands and course.” [5]. adjacent piedmonts. It covered the whole of the Black Sea coast and The grass-flowery botanical-agrarian area stretches in the adjacent piedmont from the river Ghalidzgi gorge to the extreme high-mountainous zone of the Caucasioni and the Lesser Cauca- north-western border of the country. In west Georgia, it occupied sioni. It is the area with high-mountainous alpine and subalpine an eastern part of Kolkheti Valley as well, and this area deeply meadows used as summer pastures since the ancient times. This penetrated the gorges of big rivers (Rioni, Tskhenistskali, Kvirila). area occupies quite a large territory on Plateau. In fact, all These are the gorges where people cultivate a magnificent vine over this region, summer cattle-breeding was a leading branch of species and make aromatic wines with it to date. In east Georgia, economy. Consequently, Iv. Javakhishvili named this region as a the vineyard-fruit area covers the plain of and adjacent grass-flowery one: “Non-forest and grass-flowery area was pre- piedmont, and peripheral areas adjacent to Kvemo Kartli and Ala- sented on the territories of Javakheti, Poso, , Artaani and zani Plains. This area too, is distinguished for well-developed vine- Kola … Oltisi gorge above Narumaki, plateaus, Idi and Nar- and fruit-growing. umaki, Basiani and Tortomi gorge above Khakhuli had the same Vine-growing has played a great role in the economic devel- properties. There was a mountainous zone here with only moun- opment of the country since the ancient times, and this is evi- tain crops growing in it. Owing to the grass-flowery nature, there denced by a number of circumstances. Ivane Javakhishvili names were vast and amazing summer pastures here.” [1]. Such state of

Please cite this article in press as: D. Sartania, et al., The agrarian zones of Georgia according to the map by Ivane Javakhishvili, Annals of Agrarian Science (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aasci.2017.05.025 4 D. Sartania et al. / Annals of Agrarian Science xxx (2017) 1e4 affairs promoted well-developed cattle-breeding in the area since the ancient times here, while in the mountainous regions of the Caucasioni and the Lesser Caucasioni, just on the opposite, it was developed to a lesser degree, not so successfully. Here is what Iv. Javakhishvili wrote: “The bulk of large summer pastures is seen mostly in South Georgia. As for the summer pastures in the northern part of the country, due to the lack of land and vast plains within its borders, they were less important” [1]. The Winter Pastures botanical-agrarian area spread on the lowland of east Georgia, on Iori Plateau, on the both sides of the rivers Mtkvari and Iori. In the economic respect, this area played a major role, as it was the only vast area for cattle wintering bene- ficial for cattle-breeding in the mountains. It was due to these and similar circumstances, that Ivane Javakhishvili wrote about the interdependence and mutual necessity of the residents of the Fig. 1. Grape varieties (endemic) growing only in one community of Georgia according plains and mountains. to Iv. Javakhishvili. Thus, Ivane Javakhishvili well realized the great importance of the study of the agrarian areas for Georgia. A farmer used to settle them, and with regard of some species, even notes that they grew in the place where it was convenient to live and built a settlement, over much larger areas in the past than now [5]. as well as to get engaged in agriculture. In addition, a farmer used to The total number of the endemic vine species grown only in East develop the farming suitable for his specific agrarian area. and West Georgia exceeds the number of the vine species growing Two terms named by Ivane Javakhishvili in respect of pastures in East Georgia only. In this region, he named 16 species only: are noteworthy: “pasture” and “a potential pasture”. Here is what Adanasuri, Akido, Arabouli, Butko, Did-Mtevana, Dondglabi, Mauri, he wrote about them: “A land used to feed the cattle was called a Makhvateli, Mekenchkhala, Rtskhilatubani, Samachre, Samchacha, pasture … As it can be seen, only the turf-covered land was usually Cheshi, Chechibeshi, Chkhaveri and Tsitska. The number of the vine used as a pasture … A pasture was the name of the place where the varieties growing in east Georgia only is 8: Adreuli, Aragvispiruli, cattle grazed commonly, while a potential pasture was a place, Ganakharuli, Tavkveri, Kishuri, Grubeli, Partkala and Shabia. which could be used or could be made a pasture” [1]. The number of the grape varieties growing only in one com- munity of Georgia is quite great. In this respect, West Georgia was Grape varieties particularly noteworthy (Fig. 1). Thus, the article shows the economic relations, which, in Iv. The study of the distribution and geographical names (topo- Javakhishvili's opinion, made for the establishment of the state- nyms) of the ancient and modern vine species of Georgia (topo- hood of Georgia. The paper describes the agricultural potential of 6 nyms) are very important for different branches of science. Quite botanical-agrarian areas of Georgia (Pomelo-and-Bitter Orange, often, it allows clarifying the most important issues concerning not Rice-Cotton, Vineyard-and-Fruity, Non-Vineyard-or-Fruity, Grass- only the botanists and specialists of ampelography, vine-growing Flowery and Winter Pastures) [6,7]. specialists, historical economists and linguists, but geographers as In Iv. Javakhishvili's opinion, the demarcation of the lowland and well. In this respect, the importance of the works by Ivane Jav- mountains in the past was done not only for geographical, but for akhishvili is immense. agricultural reasons as well. Therefore, the identification of the Ivane Javakhishvili named a number of vine varieties on the areas of the mountains and plains (and consequently, the nature of territory of Georgia (including the historical territories), distributed some or other plants, animals, settled areas, economic activities, quite unevenly on the territory of the country. etc.) in the old sources, the ancient practice of drawing hypsometric In “The Economic History of Georgia” Ivane Javakhishvili talked boundaries between them (however, with some exceptions) must about the distribution of the vine species in different corners of be taken into account. Georgia [5]. As he noted, “By now, we have registered only about 250 vine varieties in all communities of Georgia, but if considering References other red, white and black-red varieties, the total number of grape ” varieties will reach 287 [1]. The analysis of the data evidenced that [1] Iv. Javakhishvili, Economic History of Georgia, Works in 12 Volumes by Jav- the maximum number of the vine varieties is found in Kakheti, akhishvili, vol. 5, 1986. Tbilisi. Guria and Racha, with over 60 grape varieties in each region named [2] Iv. Javakhsivhili, Map of Botanical-agrarian Areas of Georgia, 1930. Scale 1: by Iv. Javakhishvili, and their least number was found in Hereti and 3,000,000. [3] Vakhushti Bagrationi, Geographical Description of Georgia by Vakhushti Kakheti. Bagrationi, published by Marie Brosset, 1842. Tiflis. Both, in east and west Georgia, Iv. Javakhishvili names 23 vine [4] N. Ketskhoveli, Zones of Cultural Impact in Georgia, “Publication of the Acad- ” varieties, i.e. those growing both, in east and west Georgia: Bude- emy of Science of the Georgia SSR , Tbilisi, 1957. [5] Iv. Javakhishvili, Economic History of Georgia, Works in 12 Volumes by Jav- shuri, Ganjis-Kurdzeni, Dampala, Tita, Tkhlapai, Kapistoni, Kumsi, akhishvili, vol. 4, 1996. Tbilisi. Meliskuda, Mzhgria, Mtsvivani, Mtsvane, Rko, , Saabi, [6] D. Nikolaishvili, Ancient and modern vine varieties of Georgia e distribution Sakmela, , Tredis-Pekha, Peradi, Shavi Kurdzeni, Tshenis- and geographical names, in: The International Scientific Conference, Two Wine Civilizations, Tbilisi, Georgia and France, 2007, pp. 143e167. Dzudzu, Dzelshavi, Kharistvala and Khikhvi. The scientist con- [7] I.K. Huzmiev, O.A. Gassieva, Biosphere abd sustainability, J. Ann. Agrar. Sci. 13 siders Saperavi and Mtsvane as the most widespread varieties of (no. 2) (2015) 73e76.

Please cite this article in press as: D. Sartania, et al., The agrarian zones of Georgia according to the map by Ivane Javakhishvili, Annals of Agrarian Science (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aasci.2017.05.025