The monograph completes a series of six volumes of the Historical and Ethnographic Atlas of the Tatar People . To its compilation a team of ethnographers from the field of archeology and ethnography of the Institute of Language, Literature and History . G. Ibragimov of the Kazan branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (later - the department of ethnography of the IYALI, today - the department of ethnology of the Institute of History . Sh. Marjani AN RT) under the leadership of R. G. Muhammedova started in 1971 . By this time, it was realized the need to expand and deepen the source base of ethnographic research on the basis of conducting a large-scale survey of the Tatar population of the Volga-Ural region under single programs. Due to the labor intensity of the research process, some groups of Tatars (living in Western Siberia, Astrakhan region, etc.) ) At this stage, the structure of the Atlas was not included. For 15 years, 28 expeditions were made, covering about 450 settlements in a square of 40-67 degrees east longitude and 50-57 degrees north latitude. The leaders of the expeditions were: 1971-1976 . R. G. Mukhamedova, and from 1977 to 1987. - Y. G. Muhametshin . They were attended by almost all ethnographers of the department (P.). K. Urazmanova, S. In. Suslova, N. A. Halikov, F. Sh. Safina, F. L. Sharifullina, D. M. Ishakov). The permanent participant was A. A. Mazanov, as a research artist responsible for the collection of pictorial material. Mass and well-annotated field ethnographic material was collected by the authors through oral information, questionnaires, photos and from fixation on the vast area of settlement of the Tatars in the Volga region and in the Urals. The rural population was studied primarily because it was the bearer of ethno-cultural traditions. In addition, the funds of 25 museums and more than 20 archives of the country were studied. Large statistical, cartographic and pictorial material has been collected. This information is a valuable, sometimes unique, addition to expeditionary materials. The collection of the material and its scientific interpretation were carried out over three chronological periods: the middle of the XIX century. , late XIX - early XX centuries . modernity, that is, the 60-80s of the twentieth century. The monograph consists of three sections. The first section contains chapters on the influence of environmental and socio-economic factors on the addition of some features of the culture of the Volga Tatars (authors of U. G. Muhametshin, N. A. Halikov). The second section, in fact - central in the work, is devoted to the allocation of ethno-territorial groups of the people and the issues of their formation (D. M. Ishakov). In the chapters of the third section, ethnocultural complexes are given on the example of housing (H. A. Halikov), weaving (F. Sh. Safina), clothes (C. In. The Feasts and Feasts (R.) K. Urazmanova). For a wide range of readers - ethnographers, historians, local historians, museum workers, teachers and students of universities . Dop. Information: CONTENTSFrom the Editors SECTION FIRSTChapter 1. Ecological environment and traditional culture of the Tatars of the Volga region and the Urals (Yu. G. Muhametshin, N. A. Halikov), Chapter 2. Ethnosocial features of economic traditions of Volga-Ural Tatars (N. A. Halikov), SECTION SECTION SECONDChapter 3. General methodological aspects of the problem of the structure of the ethnos (D.) M. Ishakov)1. Theoretical and methodological aspects . Conceptual apparatus 2. Historiographical Review . Chapter 4. Problems of ethnocultural differentiation of Volga-Ural Tatars (D. M. Ishakov) 1. Basic principles of ethno-cultural zoning 2. Ethnocultural communities of the Volga-Urals historical and ethnographic region . Chapter 5. Ethnographic groups of Volga-Ural Tatars: experience of system analysis (D.) M. Ishakov) 1. Ethnographic groups as part of the subethnos of the Kazan Tatars 2. Ethnographic groups as part of the subethnos of the Kasimov Tatars 3. Ethnographic groups in the subethnos of the Mishares 4. Ethnographic groups within the sub-confessional community of croached THIRD SECTION. Ethnocultural zoning. Chapter 6. Ethnocultural and territorial housing complexes (H.) A. Halikov), Chapter 7. Ethno-territorial features of weaving (F.) Sh. Safina), Chapter 8. Ethnocultural zoning according to folk costume (C.) In. Suslova), Territorial complexes of clothes . Regional complexes of women's jewelry . Chapter 9. Ethnic groups according to ritual (P.) K. Urazmanova) 206 . Spring-summer rituals and holidays . Autumn and Winter Celebrations . Consolidated complexes of the annual cycle of traditional rituals and holidays, their habitats . Applications. List of abbreviations. Maps. From Editors