in Russia The Caucasus has been inhabited for millennia. Eastern Slavic tribes, like the
Antes, inhabited Southern Russia at least from the 3rd century. Southern Russia played an important role in the influence of
Byzantine culture on Russia.
Persian culture has also left its traces in Southern Russia. At the beginning of the second millennium, between Volga and Don, Turkic tribes established Tatar states in the South of Russia. According to historical sources, the Russian lands in Southern Russia adopted the Islamic faith after contact with the Mongols. During the
Russian Civil War (1917–1922), a territory called
South Russia briefly existed from 1919 to 1920, which spanned the southern parts of the
Russian Empire, including portions of Ukraine. In
Soviet historiography, it also was referred to as "White South" in reference to the
White Army that fought the
Bolsheviks there along with the
Armed Forces of South Russia and the
Volunteer Army. ==General area==