CATTLE BREEDING OF THE KATAI BASHKIRS IN THE INZER BASIN IN THE 14th - EARLY 21st CENTURIES

Abstract

Basing on ethnographic, archival and archaeological data, the authors of the article analyze the features of the development of cattle breeding among the Katai Bashkirs from ancient times up to our days. Due to traditions and geographical and climatic factors, cattle breeding has been the main occupation of the Katai Bashkirs until today. The Katai Bashkirs live in the mountain-forest zone of the Southern Urals in the territory of the Inzer basin in the Beloretsky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The peculiarities of the natural and geographical zone, primarily its inaccessibility and the lack of large open spaces, have created conditions for preservation of ethnic traditions, for separate development of material and spiritual culture of the ethnoterritorial group of the Bashkirs. The study of the Katai Bashkirs of the Inzer basin allows tracing changes in the way of life of the Bashkirs from semi-nomadic one to the formation of farms and the development of horse breeding. The origin of the Katai (kytai, ktai) tribal group is associated with the Mongolian tribes of the Kara-Khitais, or Khitans, that came to the territory in question at the end of the 14th century. In the 15th - 16th centuries the territory of the Inzer basin was part of the Historical Bashkortostan. The field materials of one of the authors of the article, as well as written and archaeological data, speak of the nomadic way of life of the Bashkirs during the Middle Ages. After resettlement to the territory of the Inzer basin, the Katai Bashkirs adapted to local natural conditions and began to lead a semi-nomadic way of life. In the 18th century there was a sharp change in economic activity. At the end of the 19th century, the cattle number reduced. This was due to the fact that Russians captured Bashkir lands and constructed mining plants in the territory of the Inzer basin, and it led to reduction of pasture and hayfields. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Katai Bashkirs were still engaged in semi-nomadic cattle breeding. Mass exodus ceased in 1921-1922. According to informants, the last nomadic migration was in 1932. At the end of the 20th century, farms for breeding horses appeared in this territory.