History & Fact Sheet

Geographic Location

Southern Kazakhstan is situated in the heart of Central Asian region, deep in the Eurasian continent. It borders upon Uzbekistan in the southwest, and Kyrgyzstan in the southeast. The total area is equal to 117.3 thousand square km. The southernmost point - 40'56' NL corresponds to latitudes of Transcaucasis and Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe (the latitude of Madrid, Istanbul and Baku). The distance between the southernmost and northernmost points is as much as 600 km.

The region is represented by the few geographic zones: Betpak-Dala Desert in the north and Myrzashole Steppe in the south, picturesque mountain spurs in the northwest and southeast. The highest point is Sairamsky peak with its total height of 4,238m. The largest rivers running across the region are Syrdarya and Shu.

Administrative Division

Southern Kazakhstan consists of 11 subregions. The capital of the region Shymkent is the third biggest city in Kazakhstan. It was founded and further developed as a small settlement along the Great Silk Road in the ХII century AD.

The Earliest State

Located in the center of Central Asia, South Kazakhstan has long found itself at the crossroads of the world's most ancient civilizations and trade routes (The Great Silk Road). It has been a land of social, economic and cultural exchange between East and West, North and South, and between the major players in Europe and Asia.

The earliest well-documented state in the region was the Turkic Kaganate which came into existence in the 6th century AD. This state was distinguished by a culture that was progressive for its time. They were based not only on a nomadic economy but also on an oasis urban culture with rich trade and handicraft traditions.

Genghis Khan's Invasion 

In 1219-1221 the territory of the region was ruthlessly invaded by Genghis Khan and became part of the Mongol Empire. The invaders encountered bravery and courage of the citizenry of Otrar, that held out the Mongolian siege for 6 months before the Mongols breached the walls and slaughtered nearly everyone inside, as was the practice when the citizenry resisted.

Tamerlane the Lame and His Legacy

The splits and religious divisions which followed the death of Genghis led to the splintering of the Mongol Empire and a consequent rise of the tyrant\\'s tyrant, Timur the Lame (aka Tamerlane), at the end of the 14th century and the emergence of Kazakhs as a distinct people for the first time. Tamerlane left a legacy here having ordered the construction of the mausoleum in honor of the first great Turkic Muslim holy man, Khodja Ahmed Yassaui in 165km northwest of Shymkent in Turkistan. Khodja Ahmed Yasaui Mausoleum still fascinates travelers due to its monumentally grand architecture and mysteries hidden within the mausoleum building.