The Baltic Tatars: Historical and Ethnic Connections in the Modern World

The chapter examines the historical and ethnic connections of Tatars in Baltic region. As a result of political and social situation in their home country, migration of Tatars was a continuous process. It started in the thirteenth century and is still in progress considering the current situation in Russia. The survey, rear for the Russian science of today, shows that the path to well-being of Tatars in Baltic region was not very easy. For many centuries Muslim Tatars were inseparable part of the ethnic mosaic of the Baltic region. By overcoming difficulties Lithuanian, Polish and Estonian Tatars managed to succeed in organizing their own communities and diasporas and their Muslim organisations. It is worth mentioning that Tatars were pioneers of Muslim presence in the area. The authors argue that Baltic Tatars at the time were assimilated linguistically and switched to Estonian, Polish and later Lithuanian languages, treasured Islam, with religion being the most prominent feature of distinction for all of them. It plays an integral part in preserving the national and cultural image, the lifestyle of immigrants in a host society, in a local culture.