Brief History of the Kazakhs

The earliest inhabitants of Kazakhstan were predominantly Europoid, descending from Bronze Age populations like the Andronovo culture.
By the Saka-Scythian period (7th–4th centuries BCE), a slight Mongoloid admixture began appearing due to migrations from Central Asia.

The Turkic era introduced a significant wave of Mongoloid elements from the east.
This period saw the formation of various Turkic states such as the Turkic Khaganate, Western Turkic Khaganate, and Uighur Khaganate, among others.
The population became increasingly mixed, with regional differences in racial composition—Northern Kazakhstan leaned toward the South Siberian race, while Eastern Kazakhstan retained more Europoid traits.

Numerous states emerged and dissolved across the steppe, including the Kangar Union, Khazar Khaganate, Kipchak Khanate, and Golden Horde.
These states were often formed by dominant tribes and fell due to internal strife and the desire for tribal autonomy.

The Kazakh Khanate emerged in the 15th century, consolidating various tribes into a unified political entity.
The Kazakh people were traditionally divided into three zhuzes (Senior, Middle, and Junior), each with distinct territorial and ancestral roots:
- Senior zhuz: Linked to the ancient Usun state.
- Middle zhuz: Populated by tribes from eastern migrations.
- Junior zhuz: Associated with the Sarmatian and Kipchak states.

Despite centuries of interethnic mixing, regional and tribal distinctions persisted.
The Kazakh ethnos is a product of diverse origins, shaped by waves of migration, conquest, and cultural diffusion.
Modern Kazakhs exhibit a range of physical traits reflecting this complex heritage, with Mongoloid features more prevalent in the east and Europoid traits more common in the west.

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