The remains of patriarchal-tribal relations were still kept safe in Bashkiria in the 17 century. According to Professor R. Kuzeev more than 40 tribes and 120 clans were in a staff of Bashkirs that time. Foremen stood at the head of provinces. The provinces were subdivided into the groups of relative families, also headed by foremen.

From administrative point of view the lands of Bashkirs formed Ufa province, being under jurisdiction of Kazan. The province was subdivided into four administrative-territorial units, so-called „roads“: Kazan road, OSINSKAYA road, Siberian and NOGAYSKAYA roads. The western part of Bashkir land was included in a staff of Kazan road, the central and southern parts – into NOGAYSKAYA road, the eastern part – in a staff of Siberian road and northern lands of Bashkirs formed the fourth OSINSKAYA road – from Ufa and along the right bank of Agidel-river to Kama-river. The roads were in their turn subdivided into administrative provinces, founded on the basis of tribal system.

Later Bashkortostan was included into the staff of Orenburg province and a part of Bashkir lands, which belonged to OSINSKAYA road, was included into the staff of Perm province.

Half-nomadic cattle-breeding and bee-keeping remained the main occupation of Bashkir in the 17-19 centuries. They also went in for hunting, fishing, collection of berries and fruits and for salt-mining. Agriculture remained an auxiliary branch. Only for Bashkirs of OSINSKAYA road agriculture played the same role as cattle-breeding in the middle of the 18 century. Manual weaving, woodcutting and processing of animal stuff were the most popular crafts. Bashkirs were occupied with blacksmith’s work and jewelry’s art. Natural economy predominated in their society but trade and exchange existed too. Bashkirs sold honey, furs, cattle, salt and purchased cloths, powder, lead, decorations and arms.

Feudal relations went on developing in Bashkir society in the second half of the 18^th century. Bashkir feudals were on army service and were free of paying tributes. The top of Bashkir clergy were also feudals.

Ordinary members of Bashkir community were personally free, worked at their own farms, partially on lands of their feudal, were on army service and paid tributes. The foremen of Bashkir provinces distributed pastures and other lands between members of the communities. Besides, they solved the questions concerning letting other immigrants in together with feudals.

Together with Bashkirs Russians, Tatars, Mari, Mordovians, Chuvashes and Udmurts live on those lands. The alien population wasn’t homogenous. Thus, Russians were presented mainly by peasants and nobles.

The nobility was formed mainly due to Russians, living in Ufa and other fortresses. To the end of the 17 century there were 168 nobles, presenting 57 families, on the Bashkir land. All of them owned rather small estates (125-500 acres of tillage) and 2-9 peasant yards. This situation has changed after the Decree from February 11, 1736, had been approved. According to that decree Russian nobles got the right to receive Bashkir lands and to buy it. In parallel with nobles, the monastic and palace land ownership was developing.