Agrarian Economy of Karabakh in the 19th Century: Land Use Patterns and Socio-Economic Transformations

Abstract.Relevance of the study is determined by the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the agrarian development of Karabakh in the 19th century as a significant region of the South Caucasus, where traditional land use systems underwent profound transformations following its incorporation into the Russian Empire. During this period, agrarian economy functioned not only as the basis of material production but also as a key factor shaping social organization, mechanisms of adaptation to natural conditions, and institutional practices of land use.The purpose of the research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the agrarian economy of Karabakh in the 19th century, taking into account natural and geographical conditions, forms of land ownership and land use, as well as the impact of imperial agrarian policies on the transformation of traditional economic relations. The object of the study is the agrarian system of Karabakh, while the subject includes land use practices, the structure of agricultural production, and the social consequences of changes in land relations.The results of the study demonstrate that the agrarian economy of Karabakh in the 19th century was characterized by significant spatial differentiation shaped by relief, climate, water resources, and soil quality. Agriculture based on grain cultivation, horticulture, and viticulture coexisted with the dominance of livestock breeding, which played a stabilizing role in the regional economy. Traditional land use practices relied on a combination of communal and individual forms, ensuring relative sustainability of rural society. The incorporation of Karabakh into the Russian Empire led to reforms in taxation, cadastral regulation, and legal norms, gradually altering established land relations.Conclusions indicate that agrarian transformations in Karabakh during the 19th century were ambivalent in nature. While imperial policies contributed to institutional modernization, they simultaneously intensified social stratification and undermined traditional mechanisms of land regulation. The findings expand the understanding of agrarian history in the South Caucasus and provide a foundation for further comparative and interdisciplinary research.