Who are the Karaites? This is one of the most ancient peoples of our planet, whose history has more than a dozen centuries. Representatives of this nationality can be found today in Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine.
History of the people
As early as 4 millennium BC. e. The Iranian highlands were inhabited by Turkic-speaking tribes. Then there was their advance to the East, up to the middle Mesopotamia. In this territory, the tribes were divided. One of them returned to the South, where it formed the Sumerian state. The second, under the leadership of the Black Leader, became the core of the future nation - the Karaites. This part of the tribes settled at the junction of present-day Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
In those days, Karaites were the only people who knew literacy. According to scientists, this is where its name came from. After all, the word “Karaite” in the language of the Semites living in the neighboring territories meant “reading”.
Throughout the history of its existence, this people was part of various states. At first it was the Hittite kingdom. After his death - Assyria. Further, the Karaite people were part of Persia and the Parthian kingdom.
In the period from 2 to 1 century BC. e. part of the Karaites separated from their people and settled on the territory of the Middle East. At the same time, it had a significant religious influence on the population of this region.
Interestingly, the Karaite people preferred to settle in caves. Cities such as Juft Kale and Mangup Kale can serve as an example of this. Some scholars adhere to the hypothesis of the Karaite origin of the virgin Mary, who wanted to give birth to Christ in a cave.
The beginning of our era was marked by the further movement of this nation to the north. Karaites crossed the Caucasus Range and settled in the territory of present Dagestan. The intensification of this process took place in the seventh century during the period of the invasion of the Arabs. The Karaites united with the Turkic tribes. At the same time, they created the Khazar Khaganate, which ceased to exist after the Crimean Tatars attacked it . Karaites have lost most of their people.
Surviving representatives of this nationality fell under the rule of the invaders. Moreover, not only customs and traditions, but also the Tatars borrowed the language from the defeated, but more cultured people. No wonder Karaites were considered the most literate people. This is confirmed by the fact that until now the language of the Crimean Tatars has great differences from the language of other representatives of this nationality.
The word "karaite" means not only the people. This term is used in relation to representatives of any nationality, professing Karaite doctrine.
Religious direction
The fact that there is such a movement as Karaites was first discussed in the 8th century in Baghdad. It is this period that dates back to the first mention of a certain Jewish religious sect of the Ananites. The aim of the community was to unite all Jewish groups that have already lost their influence under the banner of the anti-campaign direction. The leader of this sect, Anan Ban David, promised all his followers complete freedom to study the Mosaic teachings, demanding in return the denial of the Talmud, as well as the veneration of the Torah as the only holy book.
The origin of the Karaites, as well as descriptions of their creed and life, are attested in the collection “Eshkol ha-Kofer” written by Yuhuda Hadassi (1147).
In this work, the author summarized the ritual practice of this nation, as well as the polemic that was between the representatives of this community and Christians.
The book “Adderet Eliyahu” written by Eliyahu bin Moshe Bashyachi tells us who the Karaites are. This work, which saw the light at the end of the 15th century, contained exhaustive information about the ritual practice of the ethnos in question.
Etymology
Initially, the word “Karaite” in our country meant only a religious group. It belonged to religion and had nothing to do with nationality. Everything changed during the Soviet era. This was a period when worship was not indicated anywhere. In connection with this, the term “Karaites” was consolidated for the name of the ethnos of the given people.
What does the word “karaite” mean today? He determines ethnicity without regard to religion. Sometimes the term “Karaite” refers to religious affiliation, not taking into account the nationality of a person.
Semitic Theory
According to some assumptions, the nationality of Karaite comes from an ethnolinguistic Jewish group that preached pre-Talmudic Judaism. This theory was the only one until the end of the 19th century. Moreover, it was shared by the Karaites themselves. Today, this theory is sharply criticized by the leaders of the ethnic group. It is not supported by most members of the Karaite community. However, adherents of the Jewish theory of origin still exist today. They stayed in Ukraine and in the Crimea.
Turkic theory
There is an assumption that the nationality of Karaite came from the Khazars. This is a Turkic nomadic people (7-10 centuries) who adopted Judaism.
This theory, put forward by V.V. Grigoriev (Russian orientalist), has been widely used since 1846. In the 20th century, the Soviet science recognized the Khazar version of the origin of the Karaites. Such a theory is also welcomed by those leaders of the ethnic group who deny any connection of their people with Judaism and Jews. However, the Khazar version was met with criticism by many religious Karaites. Without denying the presence of Turkic elements in their origin, they still disagree with the Khazar theory. To date, many scientists do not agree with this version.
The descendants of the Khazars are often considered Karaites, Crimeans and Mountain Jews. And this version also has a right to exist. The fact is that Karaites, Krymchaks and Mountain Jews have in their languages some elements of the Chuvash (Khazar). Religious affiliation also speaks in favor of this version. Krymchaks, like the Khazars, profess Orthodox rabbinical Judaism.
Synthetic theory
There is another answer to the question of who the Karaites are. Today there is a version combining Turkic and Semitic theories. According to her, this nation arose as a result of a mixture of Crimean Khazar-Bulgarians and Karaite Jews. This theory was put forward by Yufud Kokizov and Ilya Kazas. These famous Karaites claimed that the ethnic group of which they were representatives could not be classified as purebred Semites.
Appearance in Eastern Europe
There is a version that several hundred Tatar and Karaite families were removed by the Lithuanian prince Vitovt from the Crimea for their resettlement in their principality. However, some scientists (Peter Golden, Dan Shapiro and Golda Akhiezer) put forward a slightly different theory. According to their assumption, the ancestors of the Karaites living today in Eastern Europe did not come from Crimea at all. They left the lands on the Lower Volga and in Northern Iran, captured by the Mongols. In addition, some Karaites came to Europe from Byzantium, as well as from the Ottoman Empire.
Anthropology
To the question “Who are the Karaites?” many experts involved in the study of man also tried to get an answer. So, in 1880, an anthropologist Konstantin Ikov studied about three dozen skulls belonging to the Crimean representatives of this nationality. Based on the data obtained, an unequivocal conclusion was drawn that Karaites did not belong to the Semites. They can be attributed to brachycephalus.
The anthropological dimensions of the representatives of the Lithuanian Karaites were investigated by Julian Talco-Grintsevich in 1904.
In 1910, the scientist Vitold Schreiber concluded that the racial attitude of the Karaites to the Semites is doubtful. He attributed this nation to the Finno-Ugric group.
In 1912, S. A. Weissenberg conducted new research. The scientist compared the anthropological features of the Crimeans, Jews and Karaites. At the same time, he came to the conclusion about the external similarity of the last two ethnic groups.
Polish and Lithuanian Karaites were investigated in 1934 by Corrado Gini. The scientist came to the conclusion about the connection of this nationality with the Chuvash, and therefore with the Kumans and Khazars.
In 1963, A.N. Pulianos noted the Near-Asian features that Lithuanian Karaites have in their appearance (see photo below).
Blood tests of representatives of this ethnic group were carried out in 1968. The obtained data indicated the similarity of the Karaites of Lithuania and Egypt, which confirmed the Mediterranean origin of the people.
In 1971, academician V.P. Alekseev conducted a craniological study of the population living in the Khazar city of Sarkel. As a result, the scientist concluded that the Karaite people arose as a result of the mixing of the Khazars with the local tribes (Sarmatians, Alans, Goths).
Between 2005 and 2013 genetic signatures belonging to twenty-eight karaites were studied. The data obtained indicated the Middle Eastern origin of this nation and its proximity to Eastern, Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews. Confirmed the study of the similarity of East European and Egyptian Karaites.
The main external differences of this ethnic group are in average growth, a wide chest, smooth or slightly wavy hair and dark eyes. Many karaites (see photo below) have a typical nose that thickens toward the bottom and has an almond-shaped section of the eyes, which protrude somewhat forward.
The skin of representatives of this nationality have a light yellow tint.
Jewish attitude
For a long time, Karaites supported the Semitic theory of their origin. However, they did not oppose their Jewish culture. However, everything changed after the territories inhabited by the Karaites were annexed to the Russian Empire. From this period, representatives of the ethnic group in question began to openly oppose themselves to the Jews. Karaite leaders, famous people in cultural and political circles, denied the Semitic theory of the origin of their people. The strengthening of this trend occurred at the beginning of the 20th century. This was favored by factors such as:
- emancipation, when all nationalities were equal in rights, except for Jews;
- linguistic assimilation, which supplanted the Hebrew language in worship and replaced it with Karaite;
- the transition of the Karaite intelligentsia to Christianity;
- de-Judaization of the Karaite population.
Representatives of this nationality, living in the post-Soviet space, continue to oppose themselves to the Jews today.
Religious teaching
Karaimism is a syncretic system that includes beliefs, as well as ritual and religious actions. Moreover, until now this teaching is close to the religious direction, which adhered to Anan ben David. Its main principles are:
- love for neighbor and God;
- veneration of all moral standards that were given in the Holy Scriptures.
Moreover, throughout the history of the Karaite people, tolerance has been distinguished. They never experienced religious hatred of other teachings, believing that only in this case would a person deserve paradise life. Such religious features allowed the Karaites to stand out in the Lithuanian and Crimean environment and not merge with it. Without exaggeration, we can say that religion helped this people to preserve their ethnic and cultural integrity.
In some cities of Crimea , you can still see the temple (house of worship) of the Karaites. On its facade, it has a six-pointed star. However, it is called not a synagogue, but a kenassa. Today, these houses are often abandoned or used for other purposes.
Famous representatives of the nation
At all times, Karaites were considered cultural and literate people. Famous people of this ethnic group made a great contribution to the development of world science and literature. Among them is Andron the Elder ha-Rofe bin Yosef, who lived in 1260-1320. He was a philosopher and lawyer, writer and physician, liturgical poet and exegete. Andron naturally had a sober and bright mind. Using his deep and versatile knowledge, he wrote many valuable works. One of them is the book “Mivkhar”, in which the Torah comments are given. This work is considered one of the best among the Karaite works.
Another prominent representative of the Karaite people is Abkovich Rafael Avraamovich (1896-1992). This last of the Polish Gazzans founded the Wroclaw kenassa at one time.
The famous Karaite public figure, philanthropist and philanthropist was Bobovich Sima Solomonovich (1790-1855). In 1820, he served as the mayor of Yevpatoria. In 1837, he was approved for the post of the first Crimean gaham, taking the dignity of the highest clergyman of the Karaites.
Among the prominent representatives of this people are famous mathematicians and ethnographers, generals and actors, architects, enlighteners, doctors, theatrical figures, etc.