Bashkirs

The Bashkirs are a Turkic people of the Kipchak branch. They are mentioned as early as the 10th century in the notes of the Arab traveller Ibn Fadlan. For centuries the Bashkirs led a semi-nomadic life in the mountains and steppes of the southern Urals and were known for beekeeping and horse breeding.

The Republic of Bashkortostan is part of the Russian Federation, with its capital at Ufa. The Ural-batyr epic tells of the creation of the world and of man's struggle with nature. Bashkir is very close to Tatar.