A Historiographical Analysis of Descriptions of the Kazakh People’s Way of Life in the Works of Russian Travelers and Researchers of the Russian Empire Era (18th–19th Centuries)
Историографический анализ описаний образа жизни казахского народа в трудах русских путешественников и исследователей эпохи Российской империи (XVIII–XIX вв.)
Kaliyeva B.T. Bulanov E.O. Tleubekova G.B. Santayeva K.T.
1 December 2025Cherkas Global University Press
Bylye Gody
2025#20Issue 41671 - 1685 pp.
In the XVIII–XX centuries, the Russian Empire began to show great interest in the Kazakh land. The main reasons and goals of the state policy were to annex the Kazakh lands to Russia. The tsarist government closely examined the natural riches, social and economic situation of the Kazakh land. For this purpose, travelers, exploration expeditions and scientists were sent to the Kazakh steppe. The first authors who described the image of the Kazakh people were officials of the Russian administration, lawyers, orientalists and researchers. From the 50s of the XVIII century in Russia the first thoughts and conclusions concerning the origin of the Kazakh people, meaning and sense of the word “Kazakh” began to be expressed. This is evidenced by the fact that in connection with the strengthening and deepening of the political and economic influence of the Russian Empire in the territory of Kazakhstan in the late XVIII – first half of the XIX centuries, the studies of Russian authors on the history of the Kazakh people begin to acquire a wide range. Until the middle of the XIX century the works of Russian researchers were mainly devoted to the following topics: geographical location of the Kazakh land, ethnography of the Kazakh people, ethnogenesis of the Kazakh people, explanation of the ethnonym ‘Kazakh’, tribal structure and composition of the Kazakh people, population, economy, migration problem, trade relations. Among Russian researchers, famous authors were P.I. Rychkov, I.V. Gaverdovsky, G.F. Miller, I.G. Georgi, I.P. Falk, P.S. Pallas, S.V. Bronevsky, E.K. Meyendorff, I.M. Muravyov, and others. The materials of three expeditions organised by the Russian Empire were published in the works of Kirillov, Grigoriev, and Rumyantsev. The works, written for different purposes, contain a large amount of materials, but they require critical analysis. The article of the study aims to draw the attention of historians to the mentioned works, which are of great importance both from the point of view of historical research and source studies. Special attention is paid to the reliability and documentary significance of their works.
colonization , ethno genesis , everyday life , Kazakh steppe , reconnaissance expeditions , Russian Empire , traditions , way of life
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Zhetysu University named after Iliyas Zhansugurov, Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan
Zhetysu University named after Iliyas Zhansugurov
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