Russian colonialism in Caucasus in the context of orientalism

Russia is such a big empire that spread across two continents completely different from each other culturally, socially and politically. In its earliest period, during the Kievan principalities, Russia had relatively strong relations with the West. However, Russian links with the West were radically affected during 300 years lasted conquest and occupation of Mongol-Tatars. That's why Westernisation of Russia had not actually completed till Peter the Great era (1682-1725). Far-reaching reforms were applied and contributions of the Europeans were required in order to establish a proper western system in the Russian Tsardom during his era. Because of Western scientists, especially Germans, and the research centers, universities established, Oriental studies in Russia reached a certain level in Peter the Great and his successors times. The East Studies Centres founded in Kazan, St. Petersburg and Moscow, and Imperial Geography and History Societies together organized academic travels to the different areas of the East. Russian intellectuals who were influenced by the developments occurred in the 19th century in the western thoughts and particularly by the German Romanticism, debated about Russia's identity and future. At the end of these debates, the following consensus was reached: it was the East which had to be conquered for the greater glory of Tsar and Motherland. Desiring to take part in the new world order Russia invaded the Caucasus with the aim of taking trade routes and raw materials under control–showing the best execution of relationship between Orientalism and Colonialism according to Edward Said. The aim of our thesis is to investigate the relations between Russian colonialism and academic orientalism governed by imperialist aims over the Caucasus; how the way Russia looked at the East and how academic orientalism contributed to Russia's aims of Imperialism.