The earliest known organized state within the boundaries of Tatarstan was Volga Bulgaria (c. 900–1238 CE). The Volga Bulgars had an advanced mercantile state with trade contacts throughout Inner Eurasia, the Middle East and the Baltic, which maintained its independence despite pressure by such nations as the Khazars, the Kievan Rus and the Kipchaks. Islam was introduced by missionaries from Baghdad around the time of ibn Fadlan's journey in 922. more...
Urmançe Ğäbdelbaqí İdris ulı ([urmanˈʃʲeɣæbˌdelʲbʌˈqɯɪidˌrisuˈlɯ] aka Baqi Urmançe [bʌˈqɯɪurmanˈʃʲe][1]; Janalif: Baqi Urmance; Tatar Cyrillic: Урманче Бакый (Габделбакый) Идрис улы; Russian: Урманче́ Баки́ (Габделбакы́й) Идри́сович; February 23, 1897 - August 6, 1990) was a Tatar painter, sculptor and graphic artist, and a pedagogue. He received the following awards and titles: People's Artist of Tatar ASSR (1960), People's Artist of the Russian SFSR (1982), and laureate of the Ğabdulla Tuqay Tatar ASSR State Prize (1967).
He was born on February 23, 1897 in Kül Çerkene, a village in the modern Buinsky District of Tatarstan as Ğäbdelbaqí Urmançiev. In 1907 the Urmançievs moved to Kazan, where Baqi entered Möxämmädiämadrassah. Studying at the madrassa, he became interested in Oriental languages and Tatar poetry. Ğabdulla Tuqay's poetry particularly impressed him. Other hobbies of his included drawing and playing the violin. However, Urmançe failed to pass the entrance examinations for the Kazan Artist school, so in 1914 he began to work as a loader in the Urals and afterward in Siberia. In 1916, he was mobilized into the army. But his violin, pencil, and water-colors were always with him. more...
