J U L Y 2 0 0 8
Kazakhstan stepped into the world arena as an independent republic in 1991. It is a new nation in transit, charging forward to join the ranks of a world on the threshold of the 21st century. Yet at its heart lies a history rooted in antiquity and a culture suffused with tradition. It boasts a nomadic past and warrior legacy stirring up images of Genghis Khan. The ethnic Kazakhs, who now account for almost half of Kazakhstan's population, were primarily pastoral nomads until the middle of the last century. Depending on the climate and nature of the land, they might have easily traveled hundreds of miles, migrating from rich summer pastures to warmer winter quarters, accompanied by their horses, cattle, goats and camels.