THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY

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THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND
beginning of 19 th century, Kazakh lands belonged to Russia verbally;
whereas some of the regions of the Great Jüz 176 and Middle Jüz were
under the authority of Kokand and Khivan Khanates. In other words,
according to E. Bekmakhanov, Czarist Russia made those reforms to
solve this problem and to eliminate the independence of Kazakh
state. Three ways of precautions taken in general for this were: 1.
Towers strengthened with safeguards were built in the border lines
and Cossack compounds 177 were settled. 2. In order to put the reforms
of Czarist Russia government into practice, Provinces 178 (okrug) and
provincial courts 179 were established and then a range system 180 was
enacted. In this way the political authorities of Kazakh Turks were
limited. 3. Taking the lands of Kazakh in a systematic and indiscrete
way, practicing tax system, and practicing government monopolies (like
fishing and lumber cutting). It was obvious that the real aim of this
Charter was to eliminate the Khanate way of government in Kazakh
lands and to take all the lands of Kazakhs under the domination of
176 Great Jüz is the confederation of tribes living in Yedisu region in 18th and 19th centuriep.
The winter residences of Great Jüz Kazakhs were South of Balkaş Lake, Moyunkum, İli, Çu
and Talas Rivers, and their tablelands were Jungar and İli Mountains and the foothills of Tanrı
Mountainp. Information about the tribes and geographic location of Great Jüz is in the studies
of researchers like A.Levşin, A.İ.Tevkelev, Ş.Valihanov, N.Aristov, V.V.Vostrov, V.V.Radlov.
177 During the occupation of Czarist Russia, the whole lands of Kazakhstan were full of military
towers, garrisons, and police stationp. Cossack compounds on this line of bulwark were
settled in the range of 9.2 or 16.2 verst. Cossack compounds and villages were not only in
the borders with Russia but also in the inner regions of Kazakh steppes. The place choice
of police stations and compounds were determined according to the strategic targets of
Czarist Russia. This bulwark line was the start of the settlement and the increase of Cossack
villagep. According to the records, the compounds were composed of 40 or more housep.
On the other hand, Cossack compounds in steppe were more crowded. In the 60s of 19th
century, Military-Cossack colonies were replaced with Russian villagers.
178 The province named as “Okrug” word in Russian is the name generally given for the administrative
unit of Russian Empire.
179 This institution named as “Okrujnoy Prikaz” in Russian language governed the province.
The duties of the Council were to provide the security of the province population, to eliminate
the looting at horse-theft, to handle education and health affairs, to provide the obedience of
community to Czarist government, to manage the religious affairs, to collect tax and to provide
the security of the caravans.
180 As an administrative management, range system was taken as an example from Orınbor
Cossack army who had border compounds with Kazakh steppe and who were divided
into ranges since 20s of 19th century. According to reformists, the range system had to enable
the inclusion of Little Jüz into Russian administrative system and collecting tax from
the society. Yu.Lysenko, M.V.Kulikova., Sistema Mestnogo Samoupravleniya v Kazahskoy
Stepi: İdeologiya Reform i Problemy Realizatsii (konets XVIII seredina XIX v., p.183 // BBK
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