Research contribution of Sh. Nogmov and Khan Girey to the study of the ethnography of the Circassians

The paper is historiographic in nature and aims to analyze the studies of Adyghe (Circassians) scholars of the first half of the 19th century - Sh. Nogmov and Khan Girey. The purpose of the study is to use the example of the works of Sh. Nogmov and Khan Girey to find out how knowledge was accumulated about the socio-political and cultural spheres, the social structure of the Adyghe society, the spread of religions in it, about the life and way of life of the Circassians in the XVIII - first half of the XIX century. The object of the research is the historiography of the Circassians as an integral part of all-Russian historiography. The subject is the historical work of Khan Girey and Sh. Nogmov, the first Circassians who wrote on the topics mentioned above. The study was conducted on the principles of historicism and objectivity, using the method of specific analysis, problem-chronological, comparative-historical and retrospective methods, as well as the method of actualization. It is concluded that the information left by Sh. Nogmov and Khan Girey is significant for the Russian Caucasus, their familiarity with the works of some predecessors and the significance of their works for modern scientists were established.