REGIONAL PECULIARITIES OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE TRADE POLICY IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS IN THE XVIII CENTURY: ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ASPECTS

The article analyzes the activity of the Russian State authority aimed at trade development in the conditions of the North Caucasus. The historical circumstances of gradual involvement of local peoples in the economic sphere of the Empire are shown. The political factors, which hampered the process, were assessed. The mechanisms of the Russian authority, trying to involve merchants in the economic development of the region, where retraced. The features of goods, dominated at the local market, were analyzed. The article clears up political interests promoted trade relations or on the contrary-limited them. It is shown that legal trade contacts and informal methods of exchange based on smuggle took place.