The persecution, deportation, and general abuse of those who call themselves Chechnyans, has been a heavy burden to bear over the last few centuries. Ethnically and religiously these people from the Caucasus are markedly different from their expansionist Russian neighbors. Centuries of miscommunication and aggressive policies in the heavily Islamic Caucasus have created a deep sense of mistrust and hatred amongst the two neighbors. This chasm that was created over two centuries ago has continuously worsened and has been the driving force in developing crime and terrorism within the Chechen people.
             The mountainous and harsh geography of Chechnya has been critical in instilling a sense of survival and strength within its people as the Chechens have resided in the region for around 6,000 years. Its central location within the Caucasus Mountains, in between the Black and Caspian Seas, made the area strategically important as it lay within the crossroads of Georgia, Dagestan, and the Ottoman Empire in the south and Russia to the north. The rugged terrain and the firm basis in nomadic herding created a strong sense of independence within the Chechens. The location of Chechnya also played a key role as its proximity to the Muslim world allowed for Islam to spread into the area in the eighth century.
             The warlike culture of the Chechens has also been an important factor in their evolution. Many Chechens would arm themselves with knives constantly as a way to show their clan loyalty and strength. Another critically important aspect in Chechen culture was that of the blood feud, where individuals, families, or clans would perpetuate decades-old deaths and continue the vicious cycle of violence. The strong sense of clan loyalty also played an important role as the people saw themselves as one group of people but separated by clan loyalties. These rigid and violent cultural norms within the Chechens would combine to form a strong an...