Казань. Краткая история

In the 13th century Kazan was incorporated into the Golden Horde. The first mention of the city in historical documents dates back to 1365. At that time the stone Kazan Kremlin was built to fortify the city against raids. The defensive structures included a citadel, defensive walls and watchtowers.

In 1438, after declaring independence from the Golden Horde, Kazan became the capital of the Kazan Khanate. During this period, it flourished as a regional center of trade, crafts and culture, and the city's population grew to about 15,000.

Significant buildings such as the Kolsherif Mosque and the Ozbek Khan Mosque were constructed during this time.

In 1552, Kazan was conquered by Ivan the Terrible and incorporated into the Russian Empire. Initial repression by the Russians led to mass resettlements and a decrease in population. But by the end of the 15th century Kazan had regained its status as the leading economic and cultural center of the Volga region.

In the early 18th century, Peter the Great pursued a policy of modernization of Kazan, building factories, strengthening fortifications and erecting public buildings.

Important buildings were the New Stone Sloboda neighborhood and new city walls with 9 gates and 11 towers.

In the XIX century Kazan became a major industrial center. Kilometers of paved streets, pharmacies, banks, hotels and the first theater were built here. By 1897 the population of the city reached 130 thousand people. By this time such technical innovations as telegraph (1853), telephone (1882), electricity (1897), streetcar (1899) and radio (1924) were also introduced.

After the 1917 revolution and the formation of the Tatar ASSR, Kazan experienced a cultural renaissance. Educational institutions such as Kazan State University contributed to the development of literature, language, and national consciousness. In the 1920s and 1950s, industrialization led to rapid population growth to over 500,000 people.

During the Soviet period Kazan became a major scientific and technical center. New infrastructure projects such as airports, subways, dams and power plants were implemented in the city. Industry in Kazan expanded greatly, including manufacturing, chemical and defense industries. By 1979, the population exceeded 1 million.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kazan experienced the difficulties of transition to a market economy.