Cossacks are called subethnos. If we correlate this concept with the word "subculture", it will become clear that the Cossacks arose within some ethnic group. History says that the Cossacks arose at the intersection of the South Russian and Ukrainian ethnic groups, and the meaning of the word "Cossack" means "free."
Also translated from some dialects, the word "Cossack" means "guard, defender."
The history of the Cossacks
Cossacks are very proud of their estate, they have repeatedly tried to introduce the nationality of "Cossack", but to this day this idea has not been realized.
Meanwhile, the Cossacks are outcasts, exiles. That is, people whom the land owners drove away, not being able to feed them. Mostly they were farm laborers - serfs. In exile, the strongest and most courageous survived among these people. Over time, they strayed into the so-called gangs and tried to establish a joint economy. Since the time of 1601-1603 was vague and dangerous, the gangs acquired arms, settled together and together defended their settlement. In peacetime, they were engaged in peasant labor, fishing, cattle breeding, hunting, earning food.
They settled mainly near the Dnieper, Don and Volga and on the seashore. Gradually, the settlements enlarged, becoming like small states that were able to protect themselves. Young children were taught the military craft, so the skills of protecting the settlement were passed on from father to son. The population of these places grew, and they began to be called Cossack troops with all their inherent signs: hierarchy, discipline, mutual responsibility.
These were free people who did not work for the landowners - if they wanted, they were hired by contract and could leave and come whenever they wanted.
Gradually, separate Cossack troops appeared: the Zaporizhzhya section, the Siberian Cossack army, Tersk, Yaitsk, Ural and others. In the 17th century, Cossacks, as strong soldiers and defenders of the southern borders of the country, were called up for public service, and they began to receive a salary.
At the beginning of the twentieth century eleven independent Cossack districts were formed. People in the settlements lived on military duty: from the age of eighteen, young men were called up to serve in the Cossack army, and this was considered an honor for the family.
