RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STATISTICAL EXPEDITIONS AND THE FORMATION OF THE SOURCE BASE FOR THE HISTORY OF THE KAZAKH STEPPE: THE CASE OF THE “MATERIALS ON KYRGYZ LAND USE”

Abstract

Purpose. This article aims to conduct a source-critical analysis of the multi-volume publication “Materials on Kyrgyz Land Use”and to evaluate its significance as a key documentary base for studying the socio-economic and historical development of Kazakh society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Design/methodology/approach. The study applies a qualitative source-analysis approach, combining historical, comparative, and analytical methods. The research examines archival materials collected during imperial statistical expeditions across several regions, including the Syr-Darya, Akmolinsk, Semipalatinsk, Ural, and Turgai oblasts. The methodological framework includes the evaluation of data collection techniques such as standardized questionnaires, field observations, quantitative calculations, and cartographic surveys.

Findings. The findings demonstrate that the analyzed corpus provides comprehensive and reliable data on land use, socio-economic structures, demographic trends, and settlement patterns of the Kazakh population. The materials allow the identification of both regional differences and general trends during a period of significant transformation. Furthermore, the study reveals that the systematic and standardized methods employed ensured high comparability and empirical value of the data, making the source highly relevant for reconstructing historical realities.

Originality. The study contributes to historical and source studies by offering a comprehensive reassessment of the informational and methodological value of “Materials on Kyrgyz Land Use.” It highlights the role of imperial statistical expeditions in producing structured knowledge about the steppe and provides new insights into colonial governance and knowledge production processes.

Keywords: Materials on Kyrgyz Land Use; source studies; Kazakh society; resettlement processes; imperial statistical expeditions; land use; socio-economic history; historical geography; colonial administration; Russian Empire.