Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Shymkent yakavambwa muzana ramakore regumi nembiri secaravanserai kudzivirira guta riri pedyo reSilk Road, Sayram, makiromita gumi kumabvazuva. Shymkent yakakura senzvimbo yaitengeswa zvinhu pakati pevaTurkic vaifamba-famba nevaSogdians vaigara ikoko. Rakaparadzwa kanoverengeka: naGenghis Khan, varwi vaibva kumaodzanyemba kweKhanates, uye nokurwiswa navafambi. Pakutanga kwezana remakore rechi19, rakava rutivi rweKhanate yeKokand risati ratorwa navaRussia
muna 1864. Yakapiwa zita rokuti Chernyaev muna 1914 uye rakatumidzwazve kuti "Shymkent" muna 1924. Pashure pokukunda kweRussia, Shymkent yaiva guta rokutengeserana pakati pevaTurkey vaifamba-famba nevaTurkey vaigara munzvimbo imwe chete, uye yaiva nomukurumbira nokuda kwemakumi ayo.