Kazan is a city in southwest Russia, on the banks of the Volga and Kazanka rivers. The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, a semi-autonomous region, it’s known for the centuries-old Kazan Kremlin, a fortified citadel containing museums and sacred sites. Kremlin landmarks include the tiered Tower of Soyembika, the blue-and-gold domed Annunciation Cathedral and the vast, colorful Kul Sharif Mosque. Kazan is one of Russia’s oldest cities, located on the Volga River, 820 km away from Moscow. It is the capital of Tatarstan which is home to 115 nationalities. Over 50 % of the population are Tatars, with Russians constituting the second-largest population group.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
During the Middle Ages, Kazan was a grand duchy of the Mongol Golden Horde who ruled much of Central Asia and consistently laid siege to cities in European Russia. In 1552 Ivan the Terrible declared war on Kazan and during his siege of the city it was almost entirely burnt to the ground. As the capital of Tatarstan, Kazan is the cultural centre of the ancient Tatar people and was once nicknamed the ‘Athens of the Volga’. Its cultural status has persisted in modern times too, as it is home to over 30 universities and over 40 museums and galleries. Islam in Russia has had a long presence, extending at least as far back as the conquest of the Khanate of Kazan in 1552, which brought the Tatars and Bashkirs on the Middle Volga into Russia. Today, Islam is a major faith in Tatarstan, as 38.80% of the estimated 3.8 million population is Muslim.
Brief City History
According to the official version, Kazan was founded no less than 1000 years ago. The evidence is a Czech coin found on the territory of Kazan Kremlin and dated approximately 929-930s, as well as other items with less clear dates. Kazan was founded as an outpost on the northern borders of Volzhkaya Bulgaria. In the 13th-14th century, Kazan rapidly developed and became an important trade and political center of the Golden Horde. The favorable geographical location on the trade ways connecting East and West was the reason for the growth of Kazan. In 1438, Kazan was declared the capital of the Kazan Khanate. There were several conflicts with the Moscow state and as a result, the town was conquered by the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1552. After the rebellion was finally suppressed, Kazan began its new history as part of the Russian state. In 1556, the construction of the new, white stoned Kremlin began. About 7,000 Russians were brought into the almost empty town. In the 17th century, Kazan grew economically and new manufacturing factories came into being. From the Tatar people language the word “qazan” means a “boiler” or “cauldron”. The historical symbol of Kazan, depicted on its coat of arms and flag, is a mythical dragon-creature Zilant often mentioned in local legends. Kazan climate is temperate continental, extreme cold and scorching heat are rare and not typical for the city. The average temperature in January is minus 10.4 degrees Celsius, in July – plus 20.2 degrees C. National composition of the population of Kazan: 48.6% – Russians, 47.6% – Tatars, 0.8% – Chuvash, 0.4% – Ukrainians, 0.3% – Mari. Today, Kazan is the cultural centre of the Tatar people. The city has been undergoing a total renovation since 2000. Kazan metro was opened in 2005. The city celebrated its millennium in 2005 when one of the largest mosques in Russia (Qolsharif) was built inside the Kazan Kremlin walls. Also, Millennium Bridge was opened in 2005. Kazan Kremlin is included in the UNESCO list of monuments of world heritage. Present-day Kazan is one of the most popular Russian cities among domestic and foreign tourists. About one million tourists visit Kazan a year.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
Tatar and Russian are widely spoken across Kazan, and the nameplates of streets and shops are bilingual, too. The Tatar language belongs to the Turkic language family, which, among others, includes such languages as Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Turkish, and Uzbek.
Important Types of Commerce in Kazan
The total banking capital of Kazan banks is third in Russia. The main industries of the city are mechanical engineering, chemical, petrochemical, light, and food industries. An innovative economy is represented by the largest IT-park in Russia which is one of the largest of its kind amongst Eastern Europe science parks.
Language Services US and others will provide working with Kazan
Kazan is building its relations with the international community. It is extremely important for those wishing to enter into the Kazan market to gain a thorough knowledge of the country and its particular language. Not knowing the Tatar and the Russian language will leave you with the inability of doing business in this country. Professional language services can help you bridge the language gap and successfully penetrate the market with confidence. Many of the world’s best technology, engineering, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies’ partners with professional language services company for their translation, transcription and interpretation need.
Looking for a Tatar and Russian translation company? Look no further. American Language Services (AML-Global) offers certified translations, native interpreting services, and turn-key localization solutions for any language. Call us today @ 1-800-951-5020 for further information, visit our website https://www.alsglobal.net/ or for a quick quote click http://alsglobal.net/quick-quote.php.
