The choice of the research topic is explained by the insufficient number of scientific works on this problem, although we should not forget that the history of any nation is at the same time the history of its relations – economic, political, linguistic, kinship and many others. The purpose of the study is to consider ethno-cultural contacts of Karachai-Balkars with Slavs in the pre-October period. The methodological basis of the study is the principles of historicism, historical-genetic, historical-comparative, historical-typological. Ethno-cultural contacts of Karachai-Balkars with Slavs have quite a long history. After Balkaria and Karachai became part of the Russian Empire, these contacts were significantly intensified. The most active ethno-cultural relations between Karachai-Balkars and Slavs in the pre-October period were realized in the economic sphere. Trade played a significant role in the economic relations between the Karachai-Balkars and the Slavic population of the North Caucasus. First of all, Karachais and Balkars, whose economy was based on cattle breeding, sold their own cattle and cattle products. Karachai-Balkars earned a great income from trade in timber. In turn, the Karachais and Balkars purchased goods they needed from the Slavic population of the North Caucasus. In the economic relations of the Karachai-Balkars with the Slavs, rent relations and out-migration also occupied an important place. In most cases, the Karachai- Balkars leased land plots from the Slavs for grazing and haying. At the same time, there were cases when Slavs rented their land plots from Karachai-Balkars both for settlements and for mining. Marital contacts between the Karachai-Balkars and the Slavs contributed to their rapprochement. As a result, the author concludes that ethno-cultural contacts between the Karachai-Balkars in the pre-October period were mutually beneficial and laid the foundations for their positive development later on.