Ancient times
At the beginning of the first millennium AD, a nomadic civilization of the Saks developed on the territory of modern Kazakhstan. The valuable archaeological findings of Saks’ period were discovered in the kurgans in the Kazakh steppes. Among these artifacts, there were household items and jewelry made of bronze and gold. Particularly impressive is the tomb of the Golden Warrior of the Saks, located in Issyk, not far from Almaty.
Later, in the steppes of Kazakhstan, the Hunnish state flourished under the leadership of Attila, which had a great influence not only on the Asian region but also on Western Europe. Subsequently, the Huns were replaced by the Turk tribes, whose state stretched from the Yellow Sea to the Black Sea. During this period, cities emerged on the lands of Central Asia, where the famous Great Silk Road passed connecting the West with the East. The Great Silk Road not only developed commerce but also became a crossroads of new ideas, religions, and technologies.
Such monuments as the mausoleum of Arystan Bab, the mausoleum of the great spiritual leader Khoja Akhmet Yasavi in Turkestan, and the mausoleum of Aisha Bibi in Taraz can be called outstanding heritage of that era.
The 13th century was marked by the invasion of the Mongols, who had a significant impact on the history of the Kazakh people. Most of the territory of Kazakhstan was part of the Golden Horde, headed by the heirs of Genghis Khan.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, the powerful empire of Temirlan developed, which included the lands of South Kazakhstan. The monuments of architecture and culture of that period have been well preserved, including rich book collections from Ulugbek’s library and scientific researches.
Formation of the Kazakh nation
At the end of the 15th century, the process of unification of the nomadic peoples inhabited the steppes of Central Asia began. The first Kazakh States were created at this time, and by the 16th century, the Kazakh nation was formed. Under the leadership of wise rulers, a legal system was developed, where the norms of nomadic life and inter-social relations of the Kazakh society were prescribed. Education, predominantly Muslim, and writing was based on the Arabic alphabet.
The era of colonization by the Russian Empire
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dzungar troops started a brutal war against the Kazakh and finally win it. Thanks to the courage of the Kazakh heroes and the decisive actions of Khan Ablay the Kazakhs managed to protect the people from its complete capture and destruction. For their safety, some of the khans turned to the Russian Empire for military help. However, along with this help, the massive resettlement of the Russian population and the transfer of important lands to Russian peasants began. Despite the resistance of Kenesary Khan and his warriors, eventually, Kazakhstan lost its independence.
During this period, more and more Kazakh nomads move to a sedentary lifestyle. They settle in cities and villages, actively engaged in agriculture.
Soviet period
After the October Revolution of 1917, Soviet power was established in the country.
Taking into account the economic stagnation in the country, the Soviet government accelerated the pace of economic development in Kazakhstan, which led to a large increase in industrial production. Thus, Kazakhstan became an important industrial region, where non-ferrous and ferrous metals, oil, and coal were mined in large volumes. Also, Kazakhstan was a leading grain producer.
In the last years of the USSR, the political and economic crisis was acutely felt in Kazakhstan. The planning system hindered the country’s development. Finally, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan gained its independence.
The modern history of Kazakhstan
The parliament of the republic proclaimed the state independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan on December 16, 1991, after the formation of the political system of the state began. The first Constitution of Kazakhstan was adopted in the winter of 1993. Later, as a result of a referendum on August 30, 1995, a new Constitution of Kazakhstan was adopted, which resolved the contradictions found in the original version.
