The first sketch of this nomadic people was written in 922 by an Arab ambassador. Some were beekeepers, but most were pastoralists, raising horses, cattle and sheep.
The Bashkirs had been under the rule of more powerful nations for centuries. By 1236, Genghis Khan and the Mongols had annexed their lands. After the fall of the Mongol Empire, they gained independence, but by the mid-18th century the Bashkir lands were gradually being conquered by Russian tsars. Ivan the Terrible and Catherine the Great were among their conquerors, and their lands have been in some form of subjugation to Russia ever since. They sided with the Bolsheviks during the 1917 revolution, so for a time the Russians granted them some independence. Their homeland was the only one that voluntarily became part of the newly formed USSR. Although most Bashkirs live in their homeland, which is now in south-west Russia, others fled to other countries of the former USSR.
Today Astana is home to a thriving Bashkir community. As a rule, the resettled Bashkirs feel at home here. They appreciate the Kazakh responsiveness, as well as the similarity of culture and language. Bashkirs who have migrated to Kazakhstan are able to adapt to language differences, as both peoples speak Turkic languages. Bashkirs and Kazakhs share a common nomadic heritage, where the roof over the head is a yurt and wealth is measured in cattle.
Bashkirs are fond of their folklore, which generally tells of their early history. It includes aspects of worldly wisdom, morality and social aspirations. These are expressed in the form of mythology, fairy tales and legends. Bashkirs are particularly fond of poetry.
