Table Of ContentPreface 1
AL-FARABI KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
A.B. Kalysh
А.I. Isayeva
HISTORICAL REGIONAL
STUDIES OF KAZAKHSTAN
Textbook
Almaty
“Kazakh University”
2019
2 Historical regional studies of kazakhstan
UDC 94 (574)
LBC 63.3 (5Каз)
K 17
Recommended for publication by the Academic Council
of the Faculty of History, Archaeology and Ethnology
of al-Farabi Kazakh National University
(Protocol №3 dated 06.02.2019)
Reviewers:
Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, Zh.B. Kundakbayeva
Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, R.A. Bekhnazarov
Kalysh A.B.
K 17 Historical regional studies of Kazakhstan: Textbook /
A.B. Kalysh, A.I. Isayeva. – Almaty: Kazakh University, 2019.
–172 p.
ISBN 978-601-04-3903-0
The textbook deals with historical regional studies of Kazakhstan as an
academic discipline, its formation and development, its current state, as well
as the place where the national history of the Kazakhs is under research. The
analysis of previous research and accumulated regional data on the historical,
socio-economic, demographic, geographical and cultural development of the
Republic of Kazakhstan is also presented.
This textbook is intended for students of humanitarian universities and
university lecturers and professors.
UDC 94 (574)
LBC 63.3 (5Каз)
ISBN 978-601-04-3903-0 © Kalysh A.B., Isayeva A.I., 2019
©Al-Farabi KazNU, 2019
Preface 3
PREFACE
The 21th century is entering the historical arena as a time of mod-
ernization, global change. Undoubtedly, the reforms have affected the
field of education and science. The national traditions of the country
are of great interest, which has created opportunities for their study.
The Republic of Kazakhstan is known worldwide now. A lot of hopes
are placed in modern youth, society needs an educated young special-
ists. Textbooks and manuals for the new generation represent a great
chance to learn the ancient history of the Kazakh people, its rich cul-
ture. Nevertheless, there is a problem of a lack of of regional history
development, but the shortage of regional studies is being addressed.
The study of the history of each region should start from an early age,
so it is important to increase the number of hours in regional history
for school classes. This is directly related to training of future his-
torians, armed with knowledge of regional studies, able to organize
regional field works.
Thus, one of the most important tasks of the higher school of Ka-
zakhstan is the development of methods for organizing and conduct-
ing historical regional research, and introducing their results into the
learning process both at the university and at school. Regional study
is the process of comprehensive investigation of a particular locality,
region, and settlement. As a rule, the objects of regional study are
social-economic, historical-political, cultural achievements of the re-
gion, as well as its natural and geographical description. The content
and research methods of regional study consists themes and problems
that differ from each other, but in the aggregate they allow to thor-
oughly explore and investigate the region from the point of biew of
several scientific disciplines.
Students studying historical specialties at a bachelor course should
gain specific knowledge and master skills in the regional study since,
alongside with the educational function, historical regional study
solves problems of social significance. This, in turn, forms students’
skills of socially useful activities, caring attitude and preservation of
cultural and historical heritage.
3
4 Historical regional studies of kazakhstan
The future specialist-historian, in accordance with scientific prin-
ciples, will know the main thematic branches of regional study, will
learn to draw links between the knowledge acquired at the university
and obtained in the course of the regional studies. In addition, such
specialist will master the skills of independent study of historical and
cultural artifacts of a particular area, native land, and attract pupils and
schoolchildren to this activity.
The content of students’ regional knowledge includes the knowl-
edge of natural and geographical conditions of the area, the history of
the settlement of the region, the historical distribution of its population;
concepts of toponymy; the specifics of the locality, a particular area,
village, city or part of the city; as well as the development of practical
methods of regional study and use of it in educational activities.
Thus, regional studies contribute to students’ understanding of
the connection between national history, local history, as well as the
natural and geographical conditions of the region. This should in-
crease interest in the native land, the small homeland of both students
and schoolchildren. It is well known that regional study materials
help to restore events and processes of the national history, the past
of people, thereby promoting to the spread of knowledge of the native
land, increases the importance of the region contributing to the gen-
eral development of the country, strengthening its role in interregional
economic relations, as well as in cultural development.
The use of the latest achievements in the field of ethnology, arche-
ology, and museology in the teaching and educational process not only
enhances students’ specific knowledge and skills, but also contributes
to the formation of a broad historical worldview based on a deep un-
derstanding of important interrelations between the events that took
place in a particular area and the national scale processes.
Formation of a modern citizen with a high level of national iden-
tity is a long and complex process. This process is facilitated by the
mastery of the future historian knowledge and skills in historical re-
gional study. Therefore, this problem has not lost its relevance up to
this day; it requires an urgent solution in the process of educational
work at the university.
Preface 5
Competencies (results of education):
Instrumental competencies: The ability to analyze, evaluate and
compare various theoretical concepts in the field of historical regional
study and to draw conclusions, to be able to analyze the effectiveness
and efficiency of using new methods in this field of historical knowl-
edge. The ability to organize, plan and implement the process of sci-
entific research in various areas of the considered academic discipline,
taking into account their theoretical and practical developments.
Interpersonal competencies: In terms of interpersonal communi-
cation and human resource management, to critically evaluate own
strengths and weaknesses, outline ways and choose means of develop-
ing strengths and eliminating weaknesses; to be competent: in the field
of scientific and scientific-pedagogical activity in the context of rapid
updating and growth of information flows; in conducting theoretical
and experimental research; in the formulation and solution of theoreti-
cal and applied problems in scientific research; in conducting profes-
sional and comprehensive analysis of problems in the relevant field;
to possess the culture of thinking, to develop skills for the synthesis,
analysis, perception of information, setting goals and choosing ways
to achieve it; to realize the social necessity of their future profession
and to have a high motivation to carry out future professional activi-
ties.
System competencies: to know and understand current trends,
trends and patterns in the development of regional study in the context
of globalization and internationalization, system understanding of the
field of study and demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of selected
scientific methods.
Subject competences: ability to synthesize and analyze scientific
information, identify the interdependence of the main components of
historical regional study, the ability to integrate the data into a single
holistic idea for the formation of an interdisciplinary scientific prob-
lem.
6 Chapter 1. Subject, objectives, basic principles of research...
Chapter I
SUBJECT, OBJECTIVES,
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH
METHODS AND SOURCES
OF HISTORICAЦL REGIONAL STUDY
The purpose of the lecture: the formation of ideas about historical regional
study, knowledge of goals and objectives of the course, the definition of its role in the
educational process.
Basic concepts: history, regional study, methods, sources, differentiation, mi-
crohistory.
The main issues:
1. Object, subject, objectives and basic principles of historical regional study.
2. Differentiation of regional study by forms of organization.
3. The main methods of research of historical regional study.
4. The method of analysis of microhistory as a new scientific method of regional
study.
5. Sources of historical regional study.
1.1. Object, subject, objectives, goals and basic
principles of historical regional study
Historical regional study in the complex of local history disci-
plines - geographical, physiographic, natural history, ethnographic, to-
ponymic, economic, art history, literary, etc., occupies a special place.
The role of historical regional study in the system of special (archeol-
ogy, ethnography) and auxiliary historical disciplines (archeography,
paleography, toponymy, anthroponymy, heraldry, numismatics, etc.)
is presented in a similar way. It is necessary to note the comprehensive
links of historical regional study with museology, archival science,
and the society for the protection of historical and cultural monu-
ments, and other humanities and social scientific disciplines.
It is important to emphasize the need to know the characteristics of
the formation and development of historical regional study as a science
6
1.1. Object, subject, objectives, goals and basic principles of ... 7
with a unique source base (regional, historical, archaeological, ethno-
graphic, folklore, statistical, cartographic, archival, field, etc.) and rich
historiography (domestic, foreign). A significant role is played by his-
torical regional studies in educating the younger generation in the spirit
of Kazakhstani patriotism and respect for their native land.
Historical regional study as a field of scientific historical knowl-
edge serves as one of the inseparable parts of general local history, rep-
resenting a separate academic discipline. Therefore, it considers histori-
cal events from its substantive point of view on the basis of written and
material sources and is considered to be an independent direction.
An object as a phenomenon, a subject on which the main at-
tention of historical regional study is focused, which fixes on the
totality of knowledge about monuments and memorials associat-
ed with historical events in the life of the region and the Republic,
with the activities of individuals, as well as with the best examples
of material and spiritual cultures, have historical, scientific, artis-
tic and cultural significance. For example, special attention is paid
to archaeological (settlements and kurgans, religious buildings,
rock paintings), ethnographic (dwellings and buildings, household
items and folk crafts, applied art, tools, etc.), architectural (monu-
mental buildings, structures, obelisks) and other monuments in
the context of modern historical education.
Its subject is aimed at knowledge of features of historical and
cultural heritage of the past and the present, materialized in the monu-
ments of history and culture, art and architecture, economic and cul-
tural types of the population of a certain region or the Republic as a
whole, having an interdisciplinary focus. Taking this into account, as
a specific part of the object of study, including the natural processes
taking place in it, including the knowledge of the peculiarities of re-
gional history both in the scale of the Republic and in the context of
its individual regions, raises its importance. The main directions of
this discipline studying are historical events of antiquity, early and late
middle ages, modern times, and Kazakhstan in the Russian Empire
and the Soviet state, as well as the independent period of development
of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
8 Chapter 1. Subject, objectives, basic principles of research...
The purpose of the course is to study the origins of the historical
and cultural heritage of the past to form students’ systematic knowl-
edge of the history of their native land in the context of modernity, to
expand a holistic view of identification, preservation and promotion
of historical and cultural monuments, to determine the future devel-
opment of this branch of historical knowledge. They should rely on
documents and materials of archives (state, departmental), museums
(national, republican, historical and regional), written sources, special
historical and regional literature.
The above objectives define the following tasks:
– to study the origins, conditions of formation, development
and main directions of historical regional study;
– to investigate the main written (ancient, medieval, new and
subsequent time), cartographic, statistical, oral, material, visual, and
other sources of historical regional study;
– to know the relation of historical regional study with geo-
graphical, archaeological, ethnographic, toponymic, environmental,
demographic and other factors;
– to master the general scientific principles and methods neces-
sary in the study of historical regional study;
– to deepen and systematize knowledge about events, facts and
phenomena related to the development of historical regional study of
Kazakhstan.
The principles of historical regional study are as follows: scien-
tific (clear theoretical justification of objects, phenomena, processes of
the surrounding reality), systematic and consistent (long-term, regular
study of the region, the establishment of the relation and interdepen-
dence of objects, phenomena, events), objectivity (impartiality), com-
plexity (a set of different scientific disciplines in the scientific and
comprehensive knowledge of the region), regionality (comprehensive
account of local conditions), mass character (active participation of
the population in the study and promotion of knowledge about the
region), historicism (study of the region from historical positions).
The importance of the definition of the conceptual apparatus of
historical regional study, including natural types (geological, soil, bio-
1.2. Differentiation of regional study by forms of organization 9
logical, zoological), objects of material and household culture, various
types of sources and their typologies is increasing.
Thus, historical regional study includes a complex of scientific
disciplines that differ in content and private methods of research, but
leads in its totality to the scientific and comprehensive knowledge of
a particular region.
1.2. Differentiation of regional
study by forms of organization
Regional study by forms of organization is divided into state,
school and public. Regional museums, local executive bodies, re-
search institutions and institutes are engaged in state regional study.
School regional study includes such objectives as the exploration
of the native land and the collection of local historical materials, the
use of collected materials at school lessons. Here, the main role in the
study of the native land is given to students controlled by the teacher.
The use of local materials in the process of teaching students opens
the general laws of the phenomenon under study, awakens love for
regional study, develops creative skills, helps in choosing a future pro-
fession. The use of elements of regional materials allows students to
easily learn historical facts. Research works of the native land lead to
the formation of their historical knowledge and concepts.
Most of the materials on the native land can be used in teach-
ing history at the lessons, after school hours or in the form of op-
tional classes. The position of teaching regional study is linking the
lessons of history included into the school curriculum with the skills
and knowledge gained in the study of native land. School regional
study plays a significant role in attracting students to the protection of
historical monuments.
In addition, regional study is an important tool in the implementa-
tion of interdisciplinary relations. It helps to establish the relationship
of different subjects, which is of a great practical importance in the
development of general knowledge and educational responsibilities.
Such subjects as history, geography, literature are closely linked. Us-
10 Chapter 1. Subject, objectives, basic principles of research...
ing the position of regional study strengthens the relationship between
practice and theoretical knowledge, helps to learn local history materi-
als. Regional materials are considered as an integral part of national
history.
It is necessary to study the native land with the life of the peoples
inhabiting it. The same is seen in the growing interest of the society
in regional study. Indeed, regional study contributes to the develop-
ment of public work skills. In regional study, most of the work is done
through teamwork and the specific result of the work done strengthens
common interests.
Regional historians should carry out a huge mission in the study
of their native land, in spreading public interest in regional study.
Thus, regional study in this direction is capable of strengthening social
activities, as many initiatives are implemented thanks to the success-
ful activities of the society, as well as awareness of the importance of
the participation of each individual in the implementation of goals and
objectives.
Historical regional study should be widely used in the program
of general education (school), secondary special (colleges) and higher
education (institutes and universities) and become the main informa-
tive sphere in this field of knowledge, expanding their horizons, form-
ing the sense of patriotism. The study of the native land causes a spe-
cial sense of pride of the Motherland, forms a positive public opinion.
Currently, there is a growing interest in the history of the native
land, due to the works of domestic and local scientists, writers. The
main goal of regional historians should be aimed at a new coverage
of the history of the region, the disclosure of “white” spots in its past,
to return the lost and restore the past. This is what regional historians
do both in the center and in the field. This publication is intended for
those who are interested in this issue – puplis, students and under-
graduates, teachers and the public, who need to make greater use of re-
gional materials contained in special publications (books, brochures,
textbooks, as well as in the media).
Regional works not only form objective knowledge about the
natural environment and phenomena, but also help to find a connec-
tion between them, increase interest in the native land, its values and
