Internal economy of the Kazakhs in the border area (XVIII — early XX centuries)

Abstract

In the article the results of the 2024 study were presented. The author introduces into scientific circulation the identified visual and written sources from the archives, museums and libraries of Kazakhstan. A historical reconstruction of the changes in the Kazakh economy in the XVIII — early XX centuries in the border area under the influence of the “frontier” phenomenon has been developed. As a result of the analysis of the identi fied visual and statistical data, it was established that the Kazakh economy in the border area switched to a semi-nomadic or sedentary lifestyle in the late XIX — early XX centuries due to the withdrawal of pastures. The species composition of the herd changed, cattle breeding increased, and the number of tebenyuchi (obtain fodder from the snow on winter pastures) decreased. Stall keeping of cattle was practiced. Kazakh farms in the late XIX — early XX centuries in the border area switched to haymaking. Agriculture developed in Kazakh
farms. In the border volosts of the Aktobe and Kustanai districts it reached the level of the migrants. In Kazakh farms, the following industries developed: trade, agriculture, transportation, salt production, fishing and seasonal work. Kazakh wintering in the border zone differed little in appearance from the villages of the settled population. Under the influence of the spatial phenomenon of the “frontier”, an accelerated transformation
of the Kazakh economy took place. The Kazakh economy from a subsistence economy becomes financial. The processes of mutual exchange of experience in farming by Kazakhs and migrants and creolization are observed. Conflict situations arise due to the increasing shortage of pastures, and the property stratification of Kazakh society grows