Tatars

Russian Pod- Stories from Russia

Have you ever tried Steak tartare? Do you know that it's named after nomadic Turkic-speaking people? After various groups of these Turkic nomads became part of the armies of the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan in the early 13th century, a fusion of Mongol and Turkic elements took place, and the Mongol invaders of Russia and Hungary became known to Europeans as Tatars (or Tartars). Tatars live mainly in Russia and other Post-Soviet countries. Our co-host, Leysan, is tatar, and wants to tell you more about her people.