ABSTRACT
Since the two major regions with which this study is to deal have in common only their distinction in historical tradition from the main mass of Russia, it seems appropriate that the following summary sketch of the geographical and historical background appertaining to each should form two sub-chapters. We begin with the republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, which lie mainly to the south of the Caucasus chain. First, as to the size of this region: the three republics taken together have an area very roughly equal to that of two-and-a-half Scotlands, Georgia and Azerbaijan each equalling one Scotland, and Armenia the odd half. The population is a little thinner on the ground; whereas Scotland has rather more than 5 million inhabitants, Georgia and Azerbaijan each have about 4 million, and Armenia about 2 million.
