Kazakh Steppe Research Articles

История создания музея-заповедника «Бозок»

In 2018, a decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the establishment of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Bozok» in the structure of the Ministry of Culture and Sports was issued. The road to this event took 20 years. The idea of preserving the archaeological site and creating a Museum-Reserve on its basis came from its first researcher K.A. Akishev. Bozok is a unique monument of historical and cultural heritage on the territory of Central Kazakhstan. The history of its discovery and exploration involved a chain of significant circumstances. It could not have been opened earlier, although it has existed for more than a thousand years. Bozok is a kind of message received at a special symbolic moment of the turn of the millennium, which coincided with remarkable events: independence, the transition to a new phase of state building, the establishment of the capital in a new place. All these significant circumstances were confirmed by the discovery of the deep historicity and significance of the Kazakh steppe as the center of the Eurasian continent. It turns out that historical events of a political and creative nature took place here, that there was an accumulation and development of new cultural and technological achievements that influenced the ethno-genesis of the Kazakhs, which formed the genetic code and mentality of the Kazakh ethnos. In ancient times, in the history of the steppe space, there were significant periods of awakening, invention and spread of innovations in the vast areas of the ecosystem of the Ancient East, Central Asia. The article deals with a brief history of the discovery and exploration of the mediaeval settlement of Bozok. The first results of archaeological research have shown the importance of this historical monument. Its origin dates back to the ancient Turkic era of the 7th – 8th century. The archaeological site of Bozok serves as a confirmation of the ethno-genetic memory of the ancient Turkic-speaking population in choosing a site for urban space and shaping it in the tradition of the steppe mentality

19-20세기 초 러시아 제국의 중앙아시아 식민통치와 행정 구획의 지역별 특징

The purpose of this study is to show that the colonial policy implemented after the annexation of Central Asia by the Russian Empire in the 19th century was applied in different ways in the Kazakh steppe and West Turkistan, which are two regions that compose Central Asia. For this purpose, the process of the annexation of the Kazakh steppe and West Turkistan into the Russian Empire, the implementation system of political, economic, social, religious and cultural policies, and differences in administrative divisions were examined. And as a result, we came to the following conclusions:<BR> Firstly, although the Kazakh steppe and West Turkistan had historically interacted for a long time, there was no experience of integrating these regions into one space before the 19<SUP>th</SUP> century.<BR> Secondly, at the beginning of the 19th century, the Tsarist Empire regarded the Kazakh nomadic settlements that had been served Russia and paid tribute(yasak) since the beginning of the 18th century as the territory where the suzerainty of the empire was established. Based on this recognition, the imperial government demarcated the Kazakh Steppe into administrative divisions according to the Russian system, and focused on spreading Russian culture and Orthodox Christian beliefs.<BR> On the other hand, thirdly, in Western Turkistan, which was conquered by the Russian expeditionary force in the middle of the 19th century, it showed a change in the introduction of a protectorate system along with the demarcation of Russian administrative divisions. In addition, in the social and religious aspects, a relatively moderate policy of colonial rule was pursued, such as acknowledging some of the power of the indigenous elites and implementing a policy of ‘disregard (игнорирование)’ which implicitly acknowledged Islamic beliefs.<BR> Fourthly, despite these differences, what the Russian Empire was trying to establish in Central Asia was a European colonial system. As a result, the foundation for the formation of Central Asia as a space and Central Asians as a community, which had never appeared in the past, was laid in this region in the 19<SUP>th</SUP> century.

ҚАЗАҚ ТАРИХЫНДАҒЫ КЕНЕСАРЫ ХАННЫҢ БАТЫРЛЫҚ ТҰЛҒАСЫ

The history of the Kazakh statehood will undoubtedly be of great importance in the current political situation of Kazakhstan and the development of the national idea, strengthening the support of the country. The Kazakh people were recognized as a heroic people – there were many heroic personalities in its history. In Kazakh history, the study of political, heroic activity and personal qualities of khans and biys, leaders and batyrs, generals has always been relevant. One of the topics that became a big scientific problem in Kazakhstani historiography was the political activity of the last Kazakh Khan Kenessary Kassymuly, his heroic activity in Kazakh society. The article examines the history of the national liberation uprising of the Kazakh people led by Kenessary Kassymuly, his socio-political activities and his personal characteristics, as well as examines the political measures implemented by Kenessary Kassymuly in the Kazakh steppe, gives a historical assessment of the actions of a national character.

Akhmet Baitursynov's principles of primary school education

The article analyzes the position of the teacher of the nation, Akhmet Baitursynov, in primary school education. In the article «Еlementary school» by Akhmet Baitursynov the conclusions and principles were outlined, the concept of the alphabet and the subjects were studied at the initial stage, and were compared with the system of knowledge, provided by the updated program at the modern initial stage. The features and contradictions of the native language and the alphabet were analyzed in Baitursynov’s work. It was indicated that textbooks published before the thirties were developed in accordance with the nature of the language. Akhmet Baitursynov himself taught at the school for fourteen years, on the basis of this experience he wrote a textbook of the alphabet. He was a great reformer who not only enlightened the people, but also created knowledge about what needs to be learned. By this time, forty different alphabets had been published. The «Alphabet» of Akhmet is being used these days. The Kazakh school lost its way a little, dropped the «Alippe» («Alphabet») and «Ana tili» («Mother tongue»), and released the subject «Sauat ashu» (Literacy) (textbook) as part of the updated program. In the first year of school, one needs to learn his native language. The modern native language is a real integrated subject, which in the second grade is divided into literary reading and the Kazakh language. It is wrong to teach it in the second half of the first grade with the Kazakh language of instruction. Today, there are many unnecessary subjects in the first class (self-knowledge, knowledge of the world, natural science, English, Russian). We prove that we integrate the subjects that give the child a real functional education (ABC + native language + Kazakh). The importance of conducting disciplines at the origins only in the Kazakh language is proved. The quality of transmitted functional knowledge in primary subjects in modern schools is analyzed. The ideas of his contemporaries and other scientists about Akhmet Baitursynov are taken as a basis, the viability and suitability of textbooks and methodological manuals published by scientists to the modern education system is proved. It is shown that Akhmet Baitursynov brilliantly analyzed the then situation in the Kazakh steppe, the two systems of education in it, their benefits and harms. Unlike Russian schools, its everyday problems and the fact that the knowledge gained from it in modern language is not functional can be compared with today's.

ЖӘҢГІР ХАН: КҮНГЕЙ МЕН КӨЛЕҢКЕ БЕТТЕРІ

Currently, domestic science is actively studying the role and activities of historical personalities of the Kazakh steppe aimed at preserving the identity of the Kazakhs during the period of political domination of the Russian Empire.The role of the individual in society and its influence on it, today is often raised in world historiography. There is quite a lot of historical evidence about the merits of the steppe elite, including batyrs, biys, zhyrau. And one of these people was Zhangir Bokeyev, Khan of the Inner Kirghiz Horde.In this article, we will talk not only about his management method, but also about his high intelligence, which made it possible to preserve local national values in such a difficult period.

THE NEED TO INTRODUCE A NEW SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN KAZAKHSTAN BY THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE

The paper reviews the attitude of the Russian Empire to the management of the Kazakh steppe and the execution of the "Provisional Decree on the Governance of Steppe Regions" on the territory of the Orenburg region in 1868. Based on objective analysis and the use of archival materials, the need of the Kazakh steppe in new governance and the colonial essence of administrative reforms were identified. To study the matter in hand, historical sources from the State Archives of the Orenburg Region of the Russian Federation and the Central State Archives of the Republic of Kazakhstan were used. Through administrative reforms, the tsar of the Russian Empire decided to forcibly colonise the Kazakh lands. Through reforms, the tsarist government took measures that served as the basis for a predatory, colonial agrarian policy. The interests of local residents were not taken into account; moreover, the colonists intended to seize fertile lands and water resources, and push local residents into the desert, arid territory, giving their lands to Russian settlers and the Cossack army. It was an unreasonable policy that led to the destruction of the traditional way of using the pasture meadows, the free movement of Kazakhs to winter and summer meadows, which disrupted the nomadic lifestyle. The need for colonial development of the eastern territories, the importance of the Orenburg region for the implementation of political, strategic, tactical goals by the tsarist government, and the profit received from the colonisation of the Kazakh lands, all this required the Russian government to develop and strengthen the administrative system in Kazakhstan. The findings of the historical analysis indicated that the final consolidation of tsarism in the steppe helped to form a network of power relations at the local level with the help of military and administrative institutions, which, through powerful state structures, allowed Russian capital to redistribute income to the empire. In turn, the expanded capillary network of stable power relations at the local level allowed the administrative apparatus to extend the imperial legislation to the territory of Kazakhstan. The tsarist government concentrated administrative power in its hands, finally pushing the Kazakh people out of political power. As a result, the Kazakhs, like their neighbours, became victims of the colonial policy of the Russian Empire.

THE EXISTENTIAL NATURE OF THE HIKMETS OF AHMED YASSAWI

This article analyzes existential concepts in the work of Ahmet Yassawi “Diwani hikmet”, which forms the Sufi direction of the deeply rooted Turkic civilization, using comparative research methods. In this context, the article collected and investigated the following metaphysical problems, such as the unity and struggle of time and being, disinterested attachment to the Creator, as well as the phenomenon of life and death. The content of the Hikmet is an existential representation of a religious preaching orientation, filled with the principles of a nomadic civilization developed in the Kazakh steppe. Although the main goal of the Hikmet is religious, there are often such existentials as the existence of the Creator and the problems of human existence, life and death, morality, justice, responsibility, conscience. The main position of the Hikmets is to point out a direct path to the Islamic world and suggest ways to form a “True Muslim”. The concepts of the book of wisdom are a way of revealing transcendental contradictions for those who are in an existential crisis. For those who cannot understand the meaning of life and are in existential stagnation, we decided to use the hikmet of Ahmet Yassawi to explain the meaning of real life.

The Roles and Activities of Tatar Mullahs in Kazakhstan, 18th to Mid-21st Century

This article is devoted to the study of the functions by the Institute of Tatar mullahs in Kazakhstan at different historical periods. The author examines the activities of clergymen in the region, analyzes the internal policy of the Russian and later Soviet state, which regulated their activities by legislative acts, creating certain political contexts. Research interest is also caused by the internal policy of the state, which regulated Tatar mullahs activities by legislative acts and it created certain political contexts. The sources for writing the work were materials of personal origin and office work, legislative and regulatory documents stored in the archives of Kazakhstan and Russia. In the initial period of the Kazakhstan's colonization the institute of Tatar mullahs was integrated into the management system of the newly-joined territory. In these conditions, the Tatar clergy had rather large powers in the Kazakh steppe. They conducted civil proceedings, document management, taught the Kazakhs literacy and agriculture, participated in government decisions, and carried out diplomatic missions. Their work gave legitimacy to the actions of the empire for the Kazakhs and promoted loyalty to the new government. In the middle of the 19th century, the attitude of the tsarist officials towards the mullahs changed dramatically. Activity of Tatar clergy was significantly limited by the Temporary Provision of 1868. Despite the prohibitions being undertaken, the political and religious influence of the ulama on the Kazakhs remained quite strong. In Soviet times, a significant part of the Tatar clergy was destroyed and completely removed from the legal field. However, although they were in an illegal situation, they continued to perform religious functions. After some religious relaxation during the Great Patriotic War, they made a significant contribution to the formation of Kazakhstani Kaziyat. The author considers that Tatar mullahs were the elite of the mobilized diaspora оn the basis of the analyzed material. Tatar ulemahs conspicuous influence was until the middle of the 19th century and occurred outside the religious sphere as well.

Caravan trade of Central Asian merchants with Russia in the first quarter of the 19th century

The article analyzes the everyday business activity of Asian entrepreneurs who participated in caravan trade with the Russian Empire through the cities of Orenburg region in the first quarter of the 19th century. The specifics of foreign trade operations of merchants from Bukhara, Khiva and Kokand during this period were almost completely ignored by Russian historians in the pre-revolutionary, Soviet and modern periods. The source base of this article consists of unpublished archival documents that shed light on the details of the business activities of merchants from Asia. Letters to the regional and Imperial administration made by Asian entrepreneurs, as well as personal letters from foreign merchants are particularly valuable in this regard. Traders had to deal with a long list of tasks. Before the caravan could go along the required route, it was necessary to hire responsible guides, which was not always possible (guides often turned out to be unreliable, which led to additional expenses for the cargo owners), acquire pack animals, take care of security and prepare a considerable amount of money for various road tolls for travelling through the Kazakh steppe. The merchants who were successful in the caravan trade were characterized by moral and psychological stability, the ability to restrain themselves, not succumbing to momentary desires, and even the skills of using cold weapons and firearms. To resolve issues that were exclusively within the competence of representatives of the Russian regional or central administration, Asian merchants had to possess certain communication skills.

Horse branding tradition among the Turks

The horse branding has deep roots. Some scholars refer the origin of tamga-like signs to the period of сlan system. Some researchers associate their origin with the era of formation and development of pastoral nomadism. In the Middle Ages the Turkic and other peoples of the Eurasian steppes used the horse marking as a sign of ownership. They were applied on the neck under the mane, on the hoof, on the back slightly above the saddle, on the left or right thigh, on the cheek, in rare cases behind the elbow (with the aim to hide tamga) by using a special hot-iron. There is information about temporary branding (by painting or haircuts) for horses, intended for sale or exchange. There is one more sign of distinction for horses – “en”. “En ” and “tamga” are equivalent categories. One of the most reliable evidences of horse branding are petroglyphs of the Middle Ages. The horse branding topic is mentioned in written sources of 5th c. BC. According to the researchers, tamgas on horses among the medieval rock carvings are comparable in appearance to the signs found in Mongolia and the Altai Mountains. The horse branding is a common phenomenon for all Turkic peoples. The continuity of some tamgas has been under observation since ancient Turkic times. In our time, this tradition has undergone signifi- cant changes. Key words: Turks, Middle Ages, tamga, sign, symbol, tamga studies, horse branding, Kazakh steppes.

Religious traditions of the Kazakh people before Islam

The scientific article is devoted to a critical analysis of some features of religious worldviews and traditions of the Kazakh people in history. In the work of the position of religious-analytical analysis of the peculiarities of beliefs, religious views of the tradition of the Kazakh people in the pre-Islamic period. Today, 70% of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan adhere to the values of the Sunni Islamic sect, and the name of Abu Hanifa. This means that the country in the demographic plan is dominated by the number of adherents of Islam. Representatives of more than 130 nationalities and 18 religious denominations live peacefully in all conditions in Kazakhstan. Prior to the emergence of Islam in the Kazakh steppes, various religious directions were widespread. Religious views and religious beliefs of the inhabitants of a multinational, multi-confessional state as Kazakhstan are always one of the most important and topical issues requiring scientific research of the current state of the problems of the present study. Key words: belief, religion, shamanism, Tengrianism, Mitraizm. Zoroastrianism.

Study of historical personalities

This article presents a rethinking of the role of historical figures of the Kazakh steppe, and their placein social and political life. In this regard, the works of Soviet and pre-revolutionary authors, includingA. I. Levshin, L. Meyer, I. I. Kraft, P. Yudin, S. N. Sevastyanov and others, has focused particularly. Inour case, the activity of the political leaders is considered from a new point of view, taking into accounttheir place in the national history. The differentiation of the socio-political activities of the leaders ofthe Kazakh steppe depends primarily on the interpretation of researchers. Therefore, it is of paramountimportance for us to first reconstruct the events, influenced the assessment of personalities and theiractivities in society.In the last quarter of the XVII – the first quarter of the XIX century, among the authoritative figuresof the Western region of Kazakhstan, Karatai Sultan, Aishuak Khan, Aryngazy Khan, Shergazy Khan, etcoccupy a special place. Their activities in the struggle for political stability have attracted the attentionof Russian researchers and neighboring countries. It should be noted that the period of the XVIII-XIXcenturies for the Kazakh people can be interpreted as one of the most difficult periods. Because for manyyears, the entry of Kazakhstan into Russia was extolled by the artificial theory of «voluntary accession»and the socio-political, socio-economic problems of the Kazakh people were clearly studied. Under hisinfluence, the author examines and analyzes the history of the national liberation struggle, which wasnever interrupted, during the colonization, the historical image of the Kazakh citizens ruling the country,the relations of our people with neighboring countries exclusively in the interests of the «older» people.Key words: history, historiography, pre-revolutionary benefactors, power, khan, sultan, Junior Zhuz,Sultan Karatai, Aishuak Khan, Shergazy Khan, Russia, Kazakhstan.

Кумысные праздники, ритуалы и церемонии в контексте помнящей культуры Великой степи

Based on written and field sources, this article examines kumis holidays, rituals and ceremonies in historical retrospect and modern reality. According to Chinese, Armenian, Central Asian sources of the 13th–17th centuries, the ritual significance of kumis is shown which for centuries retained the role of the main ceremonial attribute in the framework of military rituals and sacrifices in the culture of the peoples of Central Asia. Kumis was sprinkled on military standards on the eve of the battle. It acted as a sacrificial libation to Heaven, the cardinal points, and the mountains. Kumis was a prestigious drink and an obligatory treat both in the nomad tent of a simple steppe dweller and at state receptions and festivals of the great steppe empires. This drink served as the main treat at the feast. The order of its distribution semantically designated the hierarchies in the steppe empires. In the Kazakh steppe, the traditions of kumis ceremonies and holidays continue, according to ethnographic sources of the 19th–20th centuries, to maintain stability. In the twentieth century, the prestigious nature of kumis among the Kazakhs is still noted, and the ritual character of kumis treats is indicated. Currently, kumis in Kazakhstan still plays the role of a prestigious drink, which is present not only in calendar rituals but also in feasts organized as part of the rituals of the life cycle. Field studies carried out in July-September 2021 give reason to speak not only about the sustainability of kumis holidays within the framework of the spring and autumn calendar rituals, but also their actualization as an element of intangible cultural heritage and an application for setting a world record. In contrast to the Middle Ages, in the ceremony of treating kumis today, a change in the nature of the religious rite and purpose is noted. The complex of kumis holidays that arose in ancient times is considered today by Kazakhs as a cultural heritage, as a place of memory. It is used as a symbolic capital for organizing and carrying out various kinds of events.

Companions of the Prophet as Anti-Colonial Fighters: The Political Evolution of ʿAlī Tales in Siberia and the Kazakh Steppe

Abstract Tales about the caliph ʿAlī have circulated as popular entertainment throughout the Islamic world since the medieval era. While their meaning to their audiences has varied, on the frontiers of Islam, including in Siberia and the Kazakh steppe, the battles of ʿAlī and other companions of the Prophet against infidels took on special meaning. Among Kazakh nomads under Russian rule, these tales gained broad popularity in the second half of the nineteenth century as the status of Kazakhs as a Muslim community came under threat from changing Russian policies. It was at this time that Kazakh-language ʿAlī tales were composed and published by Muslim publishers in Russia. One of these was the Qiṣṣa-yi Ṣalṣāl, by the Siberian poet Mäulekey Yumachikov, in which the infidels whom ʿAlī and the other companions battle are clearly identified as being Russians, although placed in the earliest period of Islam. This tale enables us to see the political evolution of such tales, which constitute a response to the cultural and political pressures of Russian colonialism.

The Scientific Significance of the Search and Publication of Kazakh Fairy Tales Preserved in Manuscripts

The process of collecting and publishing Kazakh fairy tales dates back to the second half of the 19th century. During the period of the colonization of the Kazakh steppe by the Russian Empire, people of different professions who came here for different purposes and worked in the civil service began to pay attention not only to the registration of land wealth, but also to the study of samples of oral folk art. On the pages of the first editions “Turkistan ualayatynyn gazeti”, “Dala ualayatynyn gazeti”, published in the second half of the 19th century in the Kazakh language and spreading in the Kazakh steppe, numerous folk tales were published, taken from oral folk art. Along with Russian scientists, representatives of the Kazakh intelligentsia and educators were also engaged in the study of fairy tales. Kazakh fairy tales were published several times at the beginning of the twentieth century and after the establishment of Soviet power. After gaining independence of Kazakhstan, numerous fairy tales were published in whole volumes. At the same time, some publications were found and re-published fairy tales that had not been previously published. We know that Kazakh fairy tales, collected in manuscript centers and library funds, have a rich heritage. Finding and republishing unpublished tales is an urgent need today. In the article, the author notes the importance of searching for fairy tales in the archives of the regional level, as well as among the manuscripts collected in manuscript funds and written in Cyrillic, Arabic or Latin letters, and the publication of these fairy tales, especially previously unknown ones. He also draws attention to the spiritual heritage of the people and the significance of fairy tales in modern folklore.

The Scientific Significance of the Search and Publication of Kazakh Fairy Tales Preserved in Manuscripts

The process of collecting and publishing Kazakh fairy tales dates back to the second half of the 19th century. During the period of the colonization of the Kazakh steppe by the Russian Empire, people of different professions who came here for different purposes and worked in the civil service began to pay attention not only to the registration of land wealth, but also to the study of samples of oral folk art. On the pages of the first editions “Turkistan ualayatynyn gazeti”, “Dala ualayatynyn gazeti”, published in the second half of the 19th century in the Kazakh language and spreading in the Kazakh steppe, numerous folk tales were published, taken from oral folk art. Along with Russian scientists, representatives of the Kazakh intelligentsia and educators were also engaged in the study of fairy tales. Kazakh fairy tales were published several times at the beginning of the twentieth century and after the establishment of Soviet power. After gaining independence of Kazakhstan, numerous fairy tales were published in whole volumes. At the same time, some publications were found and re-published fairy tales that had not been previously published. We know that Kazakh fairy tales, collected in manuscript centers and library funds, have a rich heritage. Finding and republishing unpublished tales is an urgent need today. In the article, the author notes the importance of searching for fairy tales in the archives of the regional level, as well as among the manuscripts collected in manuscript funds and written in Cyrillic, Arabic or Latin letters, and the publication of these fairy tales, especially previously unknown ones. He also draws attention to the spiritual heritage of the people and the significance of fairy tales in modern folklore.

Lexico-semantic Meanings of the Word Sufi

The article examines the semantic nature of the word “Sufi”, widely used in the history of language. The based linguistic materials are differentiated by scientific data. The analysis looks at terminological, religious, linguistic concepts of the word, its semantic use and changes in historical periods, lexical and semantic concepts and functions of our language. It is also the foundations of the formation of the word Sufi in accordance with the norms of public speech, its entry into circulation, the period of its activity, etc. The definition of the word as a character, the conclusions of those who have completely sacrificed themselves to religion and accepted it as a way of life, are well presented in the historical data. Periodic and systematic lines of work are consistently offered. The life principles of those who have glorified and promoted Sufism, paved a particular path, and formed a school of Sufism are also presented with compelling facts. The information that these famous schools had their own principles, ways, and structure is based on the opinions and conclusions of scholars. In fact, if the cognitive characteristics of the worshipper, worship, action, and piety, which have special significance in human life, are subjected to special analysis, the method, purpose, and mission of those who follow this path are considered very important. At the same time, such actions of those who make Sufism their pillar, aim at it, and set as a principle to live only by love to the Creator alone, inevitably requires special study. Therefore, the importance of this work is reflected here, and special attention is paid to the etymological study of the history and semantic nature of the word. The first meaning of the word Sufi, the second name, the official meaning, has been scientifically established. The fact that from the first appearance of the word such issues as submission to the Creator's will, directing all thoughts and actions to the Creator, have influenced the history of the word's origin cannot be overlooked. The author reveals the basic principles and pillars of the word, its concepts, and therefore its status in worship. In a word, the official nature of the word Sufi was defined, which determined the role and place in the formation of values in the spiritual cognition of the peoples of the Kazakh steppes.

THE COLONIAL POLICY OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN RELATION TO THE KAZAKHS OF THE WEST SIBERIAN GOVERNORSHIPIN ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS (II HALF OF XIX C.)

This article describes the dynamics of the policy of colonization of the Kazakhs under the West Siberian General-Governorship in the first decade and the second half of the XIX century. The events in the lives of the local population, the policy of arbitrariness in the implementation of normative legislation in the Kazakh steppes is presented in archival reports, letters, and another documents with substantiated historical accuracy. Some aspects of the colonial policy of the Russian Empire in the Kazakh steppes are conveyed by these specific archival documents. The structure of the West Siberian General-Governorship itself was the anchor of the colonial rope in the Kazakh steppes. The article describes in detail all the targeted colonial policy and social activities of the West Siberian General-Governorship. The article also clearly reflects the political interests of the Russian Empire in the Kazakh steppes. Since the article is written entirely on the basis of archival documents, it accurately conveys the image of that era. The main purpose of the article is to reveal the political and social secrets of colonial policy on the basis of these archives.

ОБРАЗ ДИНАСТИИ БЕКМУХАМЕДОВЫХ В ПРОЦЕССЕ СОЦИАЛЬНЫХ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ КАЗАХСКОЙ СТЕПИ (XIX – НАЧАЛО XXВВ.)

In the article, based on new archival documents extracted from the funds of the central archives of Kazakhstan and Russia, the process of embedding the Bekmukhamedov family into the imperial and Soviet system of government will be considered. Their destinies and careers reflected the choice of a range of opportunities that existed in their historical time. The founder of the Bekmukhamedov dynasty, foreman of the serkesh clan of the Inner Horde, biy Choltur served as adviser to Jangir Khan, deputy of the Enotaevsk district of the Astrakhan province.His son, Mukhamedzhan, a graduate of the Orenburg Cadet Corps, went from a translator to the Sultan of the 1st and 2nd Primorsk districts of the Inner Horde, entered the privileged estate of the Russian Empire - hereditary nobility. The third generation of Bekmukhamedovs met a new challenge, namely the revolutionary events of 1917, which became the basis for their inclusion in the Soviet system of government. ShavkatBekmukhamedov became a member of the Kazrevkom, the People’s Commissariat of Justice, the commission for the preparation of the Constitution of the ASSR. The Bekmukhamedov dynasty reflected all those social changes that took place at the late 19th - early 20th centuries in the Kazakh steppe, namely the transition from nomadic institutions of power to the Russian administrative structure and then the Soviet system.Key words: Kazakh officials, nobility of the Russian Empire, administrative reforms, Soviet power.

“Letters from the trans-ural steppe” by Sultan Mendali Piraliev: an unofficial point of view of a russian official on imperial policy in Kazakhstan

The article is devoted to the analysis of V. V. Grigoriev's views on Russian policy in the Kazakh Hordes. The interrelations with the Central Asia was not the primary one in the foreign policy of the Russian Empire in the 18th first half of the 19th centuries. Therefore, the central authorities entrusted managing the Kazakhs to the Orenburg governor and the Orenburg border commission. The Orenburg and Omsk officials not only implemented Russian policy in this region, but also exerted a strong influence on its formation and took part in the development of the most normative acts in the Steppe management. Therefore, the views of local officials are of interest for understanding the Central Asian policy of the Russian Empire, the peculiarities of relations with the Kazakhs and their management. V.V. Grigoriev, who held the important post of chairman of the Orenburg Border Commission, preferred to declare his position in the form of letters from the imaginary Kazakh sultan Mendali Piraliev, because thus as we can assume his ideas got more weight and he could have felt free in describing the policy of the Russian authorities in the Kazakh Hordes. This policy, according to V.V. Grigoriev, was erroneous, because it did not take into account the mentality of an Eastern person and was based not on justice, but on excessive indulgence. That is why the Russian administration could not cope even with the attacks of the Kazakhs on Russian villages and the border line that had been erected to separate the Kazakhs after their taking citizenship. V.V. Grigoriev, who headed the Orenburg border commission in the 50s and early 60s. XIX century, the period of the Kazakh steppe future fate determination, perhaps expected to strengthen the positions of supporters of the incorporation of Kazakhs into the general imperial political and legal space by publishing his polemical Letters.