Kazakhstan

1
Kazakhstan

• Central Asia

2
Geography and Demography

• The Republic of Kazakhstan lies between Europe
  and Asia
• The size of the territory places Kazakhstan ninth
  in the world
• Population 15,230,000

3
Geography and Demography (cont.)

• Ethnic groups Kazakh 53,4, Russian 30,
  Ukrainian 3,7, German 2,4
• Religions Muslim 47, Russian Orthodox 44,
  Protestant 2, Other 7
• Languages Kazakh (state language), Russian
  (official, used in everyday business)
• Capital Astana

4
Historical introduction

• Kazakh is the Turkish word for free
• Ancient times Even before our era numerous
  nomadic tribes inhabited what is now Kazakhstan.
  The historians of antiquity called them the Saka
• Middle-ages In 1218, Mongol-Tatar hordes led by
  Genghiz Khan invaded Kazakhstan. They swept over
  the Kazakh land with fire and sword. The entire
  Central Asian region, was incorporated in the
  vast empire of the Mongols known in history as
  the Golden Horde.

5
Historical introduction (cont.)

• 20th century 1925-1991 Kazakhstan was a part of
  the USSR in 1991, following the disintegration
  of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan became an
  independent sovereign country
• Today Kazakhstan is one of the fastest growing
  countries in the world

6
Education

• Generally children go to kindergarten at ages
  four or five in Kazakhstan. First grade and
  formal schooling start at age six
• The class remains together through the eleventh
  grade
• Kazakhstani schools stress the basics
  literature, math, geography, history, grammar,
  and foreign languages
• Higher education - technical schools and state
  universities are widespread and very popular

7
Culture

• In past times, the people lived a nomadic life
  and had to carry their homes with them. The
  traditional Kazakh dwelling is known as a "yurt,"
  and is made of a wooden framework covered by
  felt.

8
Modern Kazakhstan

9
Culture (cont.)

• In Kazakh national dress, national skills and
  creativity are clearly reflected. It possesses
  nomad influences in materials and style

10
Culture (cont.)

• Based on nomadic roots, beef, horse meat and
  mutton (meat from sheep) are the basis of a
  majority of Kazakh dishes
• People drink a fermented horse's milk called
  kumis. This traditional milk dates back to the
  nomadic days, and many people in Central Asia
  think that the intoxicating beverage is
  therapeutic

11
Etiquette

• Kazakh men always shake hands with someone they
  know when they see each other for the first time
  in a day
• Both Kazakhs and non-Kazakhs remove their shoes
  when inside a house
• Greetings are also very structured in Kazakhstan.
  In Kazakh culture, elder women and men are
  greeted with certain phrases showing respect
• Kazakhs can be superstitious, and whistling
  inside a house is unacceptable in almost all
  Kazakh homes. It is believed that whistling
  inside will make the owner of the house poor

12
Etiquette (cont.)

• Kazakhs, and many other people from the former
  Soviet Union, often don't smile at people in
  public except to those they know. Kazakhs rarely
  form lines when boarding crowded buses
• Public affection between friends is very common.
  Women and girls often hold hands as they walk
  boys wrestle and often hook arms or walk with
  their arms around each other. Kissing cheeks and
  embracing is perfectly acceptable between good
  friends