History

Cradle of the Kazakh Nation

The word "qazaq" ("kazakh") means "independent", "free", "wanderer". Thus, the original meaning of the word "kazakh" is a social one. In 16-17 centuries Turkestan became the centre of the Kazakh Khanate. At that time the Kazakh sultans (rulers) were elected and enthroned in Turkistan.

Russian Expansion

In 1723, the "Great Disaster"-an invasion by the Dzungars, which came form the east- destabilized the region again. This \\'Great Disaster\\' forced Kazakhs to seek protection of a strong ally and made them later susceptible to the Russian expansion. Gradually the Russian extended its \\'protection\\' of the Kazakh khanates to their abolition by 1848. The khanates as political entities were abolished, but the hordes as social and ethnic entities remained.

The Former USSR Country Member

Shortly after the Great October Revolution in Russia Kazakhstan became the Soviet Republic. The historical period of kolkhozes (collective farms) set in. The first nature reserve in Kazakhstan Aksu-Jabagly was established in Southern Kazakhstan in 1926.

In 1950-60ies the Soviet government started developing lands in Kazakhstan. It was acknowledge that the land and climatic conditions in South Kazakhstan were appropriate for cotton growing. In addition gardening, irrigable and non-irrigable agriculture spread widely due to favorable climatic conditions.

Independence and Sovereignity

When glasnost and perestroika led to the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, Kazakhstan among other former Soviet countries declared its sovereignty. Later that year Kazakhstan joined with 11 other former Soviet states to form the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).