Kazakhstan in the Mongol period (XIII - XV centuries)

Kazakhstan in the Mongol period (XIII - XV centuries)

5.1 The Mongols conquered the territory of Kazakhstan

In the late XII - early XIII centuries. the political situation in the steppes of Central Asia and Kazakhstan was characterized by an intensification of the struggle between the rulers of strong nomadic tribal unions for power over other tribes. During this struggle, a representative of one of the Mongolian tribes Temuchin (Genghis Khan) managed to unite the tribes of Central Asia and form a large nomadic state. The Mongolian state has turned into a Eurasian super empire unprecedented in history, stretching from the Yellow to the Mediterranean Sea, from the Baltic to the Persian Gulf.

By 1218-1219, the Mongols had subjugated many peoples of neighboring countries. The lands of the Yenisei Kirghiz and Buryats were seized, the Tangut state fell, the ruler of the Uighur Turfan Principality voluntarily accepted Mongolian citizenship. After the defeat of the troops of the Qin Empire, the Mongols occupied Northern China. Following this, Genghis Khan is preparing for campaigns in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Semirechye was occupied by the Mongols without resistance, since the population of Semirechye was ravaged by the Naiman leader Kuchluk and his warriors and Khorezm Shah Muhammad during the eight-year rule. Kuchluk's persecution of Muslims also caused outrage.

The reason for the invasion of the Khorezm Shah 's possessions was the death in Otrar in the summer of 1218 . A merchant caravan sent by Genghis Khan. The campaign of the troops began in September 1219 . The population of Southern Kazakhstan put up a strong resistance. Arabic and Persian sources give the names of almost three dozen cities in different countries where the population was almost completely massacred by the Mongols. Among them are three South Kazakhstan cities - Otrar, Sygnak, Ashnas.

By 1221-1224, the conquest of Kazakhstan and Central Asia was completed. The territory of Kazakhstan was divided and became part of the uluses of the sons of Genghis Khan. A large (steppe) part to the west of the Irtysh, covering the northern part of the Semirechye and the entire Central, Northern and Western Kazakhstan