Attributes of the Steppe Civilization in the Scientific Legacy of Shokan Ualikhanov

This article presents an analysis of the views and assessments of Shokan Ualikhanov regarding the issues of nomadic societies.The researcher highlights the clan-tribal structure of nomads as a key characteristic of the socio-cultural environment under study.The special attention is given to the analysis of historical and cultural aspects of the life of nomadic peoples, on the basis of which Ualikhanov makes significant conclusions about the predominant forms of economy of the peoples of the Great Steppe, encompassing livestock breeding, agriculture, urban and rural settlement, as well as craftsmanship and more.It is important to note that Ualikhanov's scientific conclusions about the ethnonym "Kazakh", the ethnogenesis of the Kazakh people, and the formation of the Kazakh Khanate, formulated in the mid-19th century, are confirmed in the works of modern domestic researchers.The article also covers the political-ethnic, spiritual-cultural, and historical-geographical aspects of nomadic societies.Sh.Ualikhanov, in his exploration of the history and culture of the Turkic peoples from eastern medieval sources, relied on manuscripts KadyrgaliJalair's "Collection of Chronicles," Abulgazy Bahadur's "Shezhire-i Turk," and Muhammad HaydarDulati's "Tarikh-i Rashidi," alongside manuscripts acquired from Kashgaria, including "History of Satuk-Bugra Khan," "History of Tuglyk-Timur Khan," "History of Khojas," and "AbumuslimMaurizi."In his works, he used the poems of the Kazakh and Kyrgyz people "Edige" and "Manas" as a primary source.Notably, he undertook the pioneering task of translating a section of the poem "Manas," "The Death of Koketai Khan and His Funeral" into Russian.Ualikhanov's engagement with educated individuals, his European education obtained at the Omsk Cadet Corps, and his participation in scientific expeditions collectively contributed to his ability to discern and comprehend the intricacies of nomadic society.