Chumak

For other uses, see Chumak (disambiguation).

Taras Shevchenko, Chumaks among burial mounds (Ukrainian: Chumaky sered mohyl), 1846

Chumak (Ukrainian: чумак, pl. chumaky) are a class of merchants and traders from the area comprising modern Ukraine.

The term's origin is from the word chum (presumably of the Turkic origin), a special storage container for salt or fish. Some claim it to be a derivative from the Ukrainian word chymchykuvaty, meaning to walk about, touring. Chumaky grew as a merchant class facilitating trade of salt from the areas of Halychyna as well as the coastal areas of Black and Azov Seas, in addition to other items.

They prospered until the end of the 19th century, when competition from railroads made longer trade routes unprofitable. They were the most popular during the times of the Cossack Hetmanate (17th century) trading between the Moscow state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Crimean Khanate, and Moldavia. Further modernization marginalized traditional economic activity, and relegated Chumak traders to areas in western Ukraine with the lowest levels of service. Their style of living set a great mark in the Ukrainian folklore, language, and the culture overall. In Ukrainian language Milky Way is called the Chumaks' Way.

Chumaky on the break, Ivan Aivazovsky

Chumak traders also were featured heavily in Ukrainian folklore and fables. Their trade is mentioned in the literal as well as artistic works of Taras Shevchenko, the Crimean-Armenian Ivan Aivazovsky, the motion movie Moskal, the Wizard (1995), song of Taras Petrynenko Ukraina.