Specifics of alimentary culture in the Russian part of the Caspian region as an important element of cultural security (on the example of the Astrakhan region)

Abstract

The article aims to reveal the specifics of the alimentary culture in the Russian part of the Caspian region on the example of the Astrakhan region, that was formed under the influence of various ethnic groups living on its territory. Another objective of the article is to determine the actual state of the alimentary culture in the region. The special attention was paid to the aspects of food production and procurement because traditionally the main part of the food products consumed by the society is produced on the territory where this society lives. Due to this fact some special cultural environment which we defined as “alimentary landscape” was being formed in certain regions. Alimentary landscape of the region made a long way of formation and transformation from a traditional culture to new sociocultural practices under the influence of objective and subjective factors. The objective factors include natural and climatic characteristics of the region, the subjective ones include multiculturalism and polyethnicity of the region. It can be affirmed that many regional food practices have been preserved up to nowadays, being slightly transformed under the influence of various factors.