Quick FactsQuick Facts• Became independent on 16Became independent on 16thth of December 1991 of December 1991
• Capital: AstanaCapital: Astana
• 99thth largest country in the world largest country in the world
• Largest city: Almaty (1.6 million people)Largest city: Almaty (1.6 million people)
• Official languages: Kazakh 1Official languages: Kazakh 1stst and Russian 2 and Russian 2ndnd
• Ethnic groups: Kazakh (63.1%), Russian Ethnic groups: Kazakh (63.1%), Russian (23.7%), German (1.1%)(23.7%), German (1.1%)
• Population: 16 million peoplePopulation: 16 million people
History and Culture of History and Culture of KazakhsKazakhs
• Territory was inhabited from Territory was inhabited from stone age by nomadic tribesstone age by nomadic tribes
• Served as a transition zone Served as a transition zone for Silk Way, connecting East for Silk Way, connecting East and Westand West
• Distinct group emerged in Distinct group emerged in 1616thth century, lead by Janibek century, lead by Janibek and Gereiand Gerei
• It is called “Altyn Adam” It is called “Altyn Adam” which means “Golden man”. which means “Golden man”. It is costume of ancient It is costume of ancient warrior. It was found in 1969 warrior. It was found in 1969 in South part of Kazakhstan in South part of Kazakhstan (V-VI a.d.)(V-VI a.d.)
14-century mausoleum of the Sufi 14-century mausoleum of the Sufi preacher Qoja Ahmet Yassawi in the city preacher Qoja Ahmet Yassawi in the city of Türkistanof Türkistan
Zenkov ChurchZenkov Church
• Located in Panfilov Located in Panfilov ParkPark
• Was built around Was built around 19071907
• It is all wood and It is all wood and originally was built originally was built without any nailswithout any nails
Almaty is going to hold 2014 Almaty is going to hold 2014 Asian Winter Olympic GamesAsian Winter Olympic Games
German people in German people in KazakhstanKazakhstan• Decision from August 28 1941, during Decision from August 28 1941, during
World War II, a lot of Germans were World War II, a lot of Germans were deported from Russia to Kazakhstan deported from Russia to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian Countriesand other Central Asian Countries
• In 1979 there were 900,000 German In 1979 there were 900,000 German people living in Kazakhstan – the people living in Kazakhstan – the largest population of Germans largest population of Germans compared to other USSR countriescompared to other USSR countries
German people in German people in KazakhstanKazakhstan• After collapse of Soviet Union a lot of After collapse of Soviet Union a lot of
Germans migrated back to historical Germans migrated back to historical motherland - Germanymotherland - Germany
• In 1995 there were 502,500 Germans, or In 1995 there were 502,500 Germans, or 3.2% of population3.2% of population
• Now this number is about 176,000 people, Now this number is about 176,000 people, or 1.1% of populationor 1.1% of population
• In 2003 massive migration stopped and In 2003 massive migration stopped and some families even came backsome families even came back
German people in German people in KazakhstanKazakhstan• October 29October 29thth 1992 first German conference 1992 first German conference
– Creation of the German Cultural Society “Vozrojdenie” Creation of the German Cultural Society “Vozrojdenie” (Revival)(Revival)
• June 25June 25thth 1995 second German conference 1995 second German conference– Creation of Council of Germans in KazakhstanCreation of Council of Germans in Kazakhstan
• Kazakh-German Goethe University, was created Kazakh-German Goethe University, was created in 1994 in cooperation with German governmentin 1994 in cooperation with German government– It is one of the largest ethnical universities in Central It is one of the largest ethnical universities in Central
Asia, with branches all over EurasiaAsia, with branches all over Eurasia
Schmidt Alexander E.Schmidt Alexander E.
• My grand grandfatherMy grand grandfather• Was born in Astrakhan March 12Was born in Astrakhan March 12thth
18711871• Soviet scientist, orientalist-arabistSoviet scientist, orientalist-arabist• He was fluent in 14 languages He was fluent in 14 languages
(English, German, Spanish, Italian, (English, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Latin, Greek, Ancient Dutch, Latin, Greek, Ancient Hebrew and New Hebrew, Arabic, Hebrew and New Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Uzbek) Persian, Turkish, Uzbek)
• Was teaching professor in St. Was teaching professor in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Tashkent Petersburg, Moscow and Tashkent Universities (Uzbekistan, were he Universities (Uzbekistan, were he became a rector of the University) became a rector of the University)
German people in German people in KazakhstanKazakhstan
• German people became a very German people became a very important part of Soviet Union important part of Soviet Union Countries, with their rich culture and Countries, with their rich culture and traditions integrated in the cultural traditions integrated in the cultural mix of post Soviet countriesmix of post Soviet countries