The origin of the Kazakhs is of interest to many historians and sociologists. After all, this is one of the most numerous Turkic peoples, which today constitutes the main population of Kazakhstan. Also, a large number of Kazakhs live in the regions of China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia neighboring Kazakhstan. In our country, there are especially many Kazakhs in the Orenburg, Omsk, Samara, Astrakhan regions, Altai Territory. The Kazakh people finally took shape in the 15th century.
Origin of the people
Speaking about the origin of the Kazakhs, most scientists tend to believe that as a people they were formed in the XIII-XV centuries, in the era of the Golden Horde that reigned at that time.
If we talk about earlier history, the peoples who lived on the territory of modern Kazakhstan, then it should be noted that it was inhabited by various tribes,many of which have left a mark on modern Kazakhs.
Thus, a nomadic pastoral economy has developed in the northern regions. Written sources that have come down to us claim that the peoples living on the territory of present-day Kazakhstan fought with the Persians. In the second century BC, tribal unions began to play a key role. A little later, the state of Kangyu was formed.
By the first century BC, a tribe of the Huns settled in these places, radically changing the situation in Central Asia. It was then that the first nomadic empire was created in this region of Asia. In 51 BC, the empire split. One half of it recognized the power of the Chinese, and the other half was driven out to Central Asia.
Better known in European history as the Huns, they reached the walls of the Roman Empire.
Medieval history
In the Middle Ages, the place of the Huns was occupied by the Turks. This is a tribe that came out of the Eurasian steppes. By the middle of the 15th century, they create one of the largest states in the history of ancient mankind. In Asia, it covers territories from the Yellow Sea to the Black Sea.
The Turks are descended from the Huns, while they are considered to come from the Altai. The origin of the Kazakhs from the Turks today is practically no longer disputed by anyone. The Turks are constantly at war with the Chinese, and active Arab expansion of Central Asia also begins during this period. Islam is actively spreading among the agricultural and sedentary population.
There are significant changes in the culture of the Turks. For example, in place of the TurkicArabic writing comes, the Islamic calendar is used, and Muslim holidays appear in everyday life.
Khanate
The origin of the Kazakhs can be discussed after the final defeat of the Golden Horde, which occurred in 1391. The Kazakh Khanate was formed by 1465. Scientific proof of the origin of the Kazakhs are written sources, which have come down to our time in large numbers.
The mass consolidation of the Turkic tribes into a united Kazakh nation begins. Khan Kasym was the first to unite under his command a large number of steppe tribes. Under him, the population reaches one million people.
In the 30s of the 16th century, an internecine war began in the Kazakh Khanate, which is also called civil. The winner of it is Haknazar Khan, who rules for more than 40 years. In 1580, Yesim Khan annexed Tashkent to the Kazakh Khanate, which eventually became its capital. Under this ruler, the political system is being reformed, all lands are divided between three territorial-economic associations, which are called zhuzes.
In 1635, the Dzungar Khanate (a new Mongol state) was formed, after which the Kazakh-Dzungarian war began, which lasted for about a century. During this time, the population perishes, according to researchers, approximately one million Kazakhs. A large number of representatives of this people are forced to migrate to the calmer areas of Asia.
Only after the victory in the battle of 1729, the troops of the conquerorsare starting to recede. The difficult situation in the foreign political arena forced the Kazakhs to send representatives to Russia back in 1726 to ask for protection.
Success this expedition ends only in 1731, when the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna signs a letter of commendation, accepting the Junior Zhuz into Russian citizenship. However, it turns out that the opinion of the feudal lords on the adoption of Russian citizenship varies, but nevertheless, the majority of Kazakh elders are in favor of adopting an act on the accession of the Younger Zhuz to Russia.
Kazakhs in the Russian Empire
Along the Russian-Kazakh border in the 18th century, fortifications began to be built, which actually began the expansion of Russia into Kazakhstan. The government is taking a number of measures to resettle merchants and Russian peasants in the border areas, putting pressure on local rulers who do not want to obey.
Already by the beginning of the 19th century, 46 fortresses and almost a hundred redoubts were built. In 1847, Russian citizenship extended to almost all Kazakhs included in the Senior Zhuz. The power of the khans is increasingly nominal.
At the same time, almost throughout the Russian rule in Kazakhstan, national liberation movements constantly arise. By 1916, the number of such uprisings and unrest reaches three hundred. Kazakh historypeople at all times was not easy, during this period it is characterized by a desire to secede from the Russian Empire.
Kazakhs under the Soviet Union
After the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II from the throne, political life revived in all the outskirts of the Russian Empire. The II All-Kazakh Congress is gathering, where the creation of an autonomy and a government that supports the Mensheviks is announced. In 1920, the autonomy was abolished by the Bolsheviks, who came to power, and its leaders were shot.
Shortly after that, the Kyrgyz Autonomous Republic is formed with Orenburg as its capital. The Kazakh SSR begins to exist only in 1936.
In the 20-30s on the territory of modern Kazakhstan there was a massive famine due to the policy of dispossession. About two million Kazakhs perish, several hundred thousand people flee to China. In 1937, repressions began, which destroyed almost the entire intelligentsia.
About 450,000 Kazakhs take part in the Great Patriotic War, about half of them remain on the battlefields.
Modern history
From this article you will learn where the Kazakhs currently live. The borders of their state cover the territory between the Urals, the Lower Volga region, Siberia, China and the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan borders on Russia, Uzbekistan, China, Turkmenistan. At the same time, it has no access to the sea, it ranks 9th in the world in terms of territory, and among the CIS countries it is second only to Russia.
The ex-head of the Kazakh SSR Nursultan Nazarbayev became the first president of modern Kazakhstan. This happened in 1991. On December 16, the independent Republic of Kazakhstan was proclaimed.
Over the past years, nine governments have changed in the country, while President Nazarbayev is still in charge of the state. Kazakhstan has large reserves of minerals, a lot of mineral raw materials. The country is located between two large and powerful powers - Russia and China, therefore it is forced to pursue a balanced and sustained foreign policy.
Religion in Kazakhstan
Basically, the religion of the Kazakhs is Islam. Most are followers of the Sunnis. According to the latest data, there are about 100,000 atheists in the country. In total, more than 16 million people live in the country.
More than 70% of them are Muslims, the second most popular religion is Christians (about 26%), in third place are atheists (almost 3%). Also among modern Kazakhs there is an insignificant number of Buddhists and Jews, less than one tenth of a percent.
Islam penetrated the territory of modern Kazakhstan for several centuries, advancing from the southern regions. At the same time, during the Soviet era, when any religious activity was persecuted, the popularity of Islam came to naught. Therefore, today a minority of ethnic Kazakhs observe namaz and rituals.
At the same time, along with Islam, the customs of the pre-Islamic period are preserved, some of which directly contradict Muslim traditions. All this goes back to the times when shamanism was widespread among the Kazakhs. For example, today one ofthe main holiday is Nauryz, which is pagan.
At the same time, religion occupies an important place in the life of Kazakhs today. According to the latest census, 97% of the residents identified themselves as belonging to one religion or another.
Culture and way of life
Today, the culture and way of life of the Kazakhs are experiencing a period of national revival. Folk crafts, customs, rituals and national sports are actively cultivated, a large number of literary works appear in the Kazakh language.
An important place is occupied by the national cuisine, which is dominated by meat dishes. Beef, lamb, horse meat, and occasionally camel meat are actively used. For example, beshbarmak is very popular. This is boiled finely chopped meat served with boiled dough sheets.
In addition to meat dishes in the national Kazakh cuisine, koumiss should be noted - fermented mare's milk, ayran, katyk (sour and dehydrated ayran), a large number of other dairy products and drinks.
Music occupies an important place in Kazakh culture. In particular, kui is a traditional instrumental piece, which is characterized by variable metrics, mixed forms. Usually, these pieces were performed on the dombra.
Traditions of the people
Kazakh traditions and customs are now being actively revived, at the state level much attention is paid to history and culture. Many traditions are related to family relationships.
They are based on respect for elders, the institution of family ties plays an important role. ATIn Kazakhstan, it is customary to carry out the rite of circumcision. This happens when the child is 4 or 5 years old. Initially, it was carried out in a yurt, but now more and more often they go to the clinic for this. After they arrange a holiday.
According to Kazakh traditions and customs, girls were married at the age of 13-14, and boys at 14-15. Now, under the influence of modern culture, including Western culture, such early marriages are increasingly becoming a rare occurrence.
Kazakhs are famous for their hospitality. The guest is always joyfully greeted, seated in a place of honor and treated to the best that is in the house. Now the feast has changed, but many Kazakhs still honor the ancient laws of hospitality.
Nomads have long had a custom called erulik. According to him, the old-timers, as a sign of respect, be sure to invite new settlers to the holiday. The tradition has an important social and social significance, because it helps new people quickly adapt to an unfamiliar environment.
The national costume of the Kazakhs reflects their ancient traditions associated with history, social, economic and climatic conditions. In its manufacture, the skins of tigers and kulans were often used, as well as the fur of a muskrat, ermine, sable, ferret, raccoon, and marten. Fur coats were sewn from the skins, the common name of which is tone.
In the manufacture of fur coats, the Cossacks also used the fluff of herons, loons and swans. The fur coats themselves were covered with brocade or cloth. When working on small elements, satin stitch embroidery was popular.
Another important part of the national costume of the Kazakhs is a robe, which they call shapan. Hisworn by both women and men, made from suede, woolen, silk and cotton fabrics.
Popular headdress - skullcap. This is a light summer hat made of brocade, velvet or lace. In ancient times, it was sheathed along the edge with otter, beaver, squirrel fur, often decorated with gold or silver braid.
One of the main Kazakh holidays - Nauryz. Its origin goes back to the pre-literate era, it was noted by the Zoroastrians. Today it coincides with the spring equinox. For the Kazakhs, it is associated with the triumph of love, fertility, renewal that spring brings. In the old days, it was customary to put houses in order for this holiday, plant flowers and trees.
Kazakhs themselves always put on festive clothes, went to visit each other and exchanged congratulations, celebrated with fun games, horse races. The ritual dish of this holiday is nauryz-kozhe, which must have consisted of seven ingredients. These are meat, water, fat, s alt, cereals, flour and milk. It was considered a symbol of wisdom, good luck and he alth. This is a Kazakh holiday beloved by many, which is celebrated today in countries where representatives of this people go.
Famous representatives of the people
Famous Kazakhs in Russia played an important role in the glorification of their people and the success of the Russian state. In the 19th century, it was Major General Zhangir-Kerei Khan. He was an ambitious ruler who actively promoted the policy of royal power. It was during his leadership that public lands began to be massively given into the possession of private individuals,which led to their destruction. Such an agrarian policy significantly aggravated social stratification in society, which led to a popular uprising led by Taimanov and Utemisov. Zhangir-Kerey suppressed it harshly with the support of Russian troops.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the post of Minister of Posts and Communications of the Russian Empire was held by the Kazakh Gubaidulla Dzhangirov. He remained in history as one of the officials who developed regulations on elections to the first State Duma. Thus, for the first time in history, Kazakhs received the right to elect representatives of their people to government bodies. He is also considered the ancestor and one of the founders of the Russian signal troops.
Today, many Kazakhs of creative professions are known in Russia. This is the screenwriter and producer Vyacheslav Dusmukhametov, who is the author of the popular comedy series "Univer. New hostel" and "Interns". By the way, a popular Kazakh actor, the captain of the KVN team "Team of the Kamyzyak Territory" Azamat Musagaliev plays in "Interns".
In 2007, the famous Kazakh opera singer Eric Kurmangaliev died in Russia.
