Idel-Ural (Tatar:Идел-Урал,romanized: Idel-Ural,Russian:Идель-Урал), literallyVolga-Ural, is a historical region inEastern Europe, in what is todayRussia. The name literally meansVolga-Urals in theTatar language. The frequently used Russian variant isVolgo-Uralye (Russian:Волго-Уралье).[1] The term Idel-Ural is often used to designate 6republics of Russia of this region:Bashkortostan,Chuvashia,Mari El,Mordovia,Tatarstan andUdmurtia, especially in Tatar-language literature or in the context of minority languages.[2]
Idel-Ural is at the center of theVolga Federal District (Поволжье,Povolzhye).[citation needed] The major religions in the region areIslam andOrthodox Christianity.
Before being conquered by theTsardom of Russia in the 16th century, the region was dominated by nativeUralic tribes and a succession ofTurkic-led empires, such asVolga Bulgaria, theKhazars, theGolden Horde and theKhanate of Kazan. At the time ofPeter the Great's death, in the early 18th century, the region had been made up of roughly 1 million people, with around half beingTatars,Chuvash, andBashkirs.[3]
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