Economic Differentiation and Social Stratification of the Ingush in the 18th-19th centuries

The article reveals the essence of social progress of the Ingush in the 18th-19th centuries, conditioned by economic differentiation and social stratification. It traces the path of progress of socio-economic relations of the ethnic group from the period of residence in the mountains at the beginning of the 18th century to integration into Russian society in the second half of the 19th century. Folk crafts are considered as a factor of social gradation and involvement of the people in commodity-money, market relations of the Russian economy. An attempt is made to show the progressive role of the Russian state and its economy in the socio-economic development of the Ingush. The idea of contemporaries and later researchers about the absence of social gradation among the Ingush both in the early period of residence in the mountains and after migration to the plain is refuted. It is emphasized that economic differentiation and social stratification are an important and necessary factor that ensures the social progress of the ethnic group through competitive struggle, without which there is no progress in social relations. The development is based on a comparative analysis of materials and studies of both contemporary authors and subsequent scientists.