This is a rich and comprehensive book on the history and civilization of the Tatars and the first to be published in the English language. It is a collaborative work in which 35 scholars from Tatarstan participated. The book begins with the comprehensive Introduction by Dr. Damir Ishaqov titled “The Tatar World: Ethnos, Culture and Language”. It is followed by Part I on History, containing 10 chapters. This part evaluates the historical transformation of Tatar society and institutions from pre-Islamic times to the post-Soviet era. Part II on Social Structure and Economic Development in Tatar Society, which has six chapters, focus on the social structure, economic development and daily life of Tatar community. Part III on Culture, with 10 chapters, covers the evolution of Tatar language, educational institutions, arts and culture. Each part ends with a section of photographs. The book was originally prepared in the Tatar language under the coordination of IRCICA and with the scholarly advice of Professors Mirkasim A. Usmanov and Rafael S. Khakimov; it was translated into English by Ilnur Nadirov, and prepared for publication at IRCICA.
Knowledge of Tatar history and civilization around the world was until recently confined to a limited circle of specialists. However, academic interest in the subject has been growing, as observed through IRCICA’s series of congresses on “Islamic Civilization in Volga-Ural Region”. The Conclusion by Prof. Rafael Khakimov points to the importance of the Tatar factor in understanding the history of Russia and the whole world. IRCICA believes that the present publication will contribute importantly in this direction. Furthermore, Khakimov concludes his section with the observation that “Today many things have fundamentally changed, but Tatar civilization leans on its own experience and values”.
