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Abstract:
The militarization of the early settlement structure of the Russian colony in western Siberia (1580s – early 1660s) is perceived as a natural reaction to external (emanating from steppe nomads) and internal (emanating from aboriginal people) threats. The siege mentality with elements of war hysteria of the colonial population are clearly visible in the administrative correspondence and in theory should confirm a high level of threat. However, a core of the Russian colony in Siberia (to the east up to Tara) in the first century of its existence had experienced only a little more than 20 attacks of nomads, whose target was usually the indigenous population. A serious threat from the aboriginal people also hardly existed. Moreover, numerous indirect signs (a deplorable state of the fortifications of Siberian strongholds, a chronic staff shortage in the fortress garrisons, an acute deficit of weapons and ammunition, etc.) indicate the strong exaggeration of serious military threat to the Russian colony at that time. Thus, the siege mentality of the colonial population acquires evident features of pathological phenomenon. The paper will explore the causes of these reactions and responses, examining in particular the effect of rumour and delayed communications.
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