Turkistan (city)

Etymology

The modern city name of Turkistan (, ) is derived from the Persian phrase Hazrat-i-Turkistan (Chagatai and , meaning "Saint of Turkistan"), which is in reference to Ahmad Yasawi, a prominent 11th-century poet and Sufi who was associated with and rested in this city.

Prior to Ahmad Yasawi's era, and during a significant portion of the medieval to early-modern era, the city was referred to as Iasy (Chagatai and ) or Shavgar (Chagatai and ).

History

Yasi, one of Kazakhstan's historic cities, has an archaeological record dating back to the 4th century.

Yasi is one of the oldest small towns in southern Kazakhstan, located near Shymkent on the banks of the Syr Darya River. This area developed as an oasis on the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert and was irrigated through waterways and canals flowing down from the Karatau (Qara-dagh) Mountains. Its geographical position, on the frontier between nomadic groups and settled urban populations of Central Asia, made it a constant focus of attention and rivalry for both famous and obscure conquerors.Bearman, P. J., Bianquis, Th., Bosworth, C. E., van Donzel, E., & Heinrichs, W. P. (Eds.). (2000). The Encyclopaedia of Islam. New Edition (Vol. X: T–U). Leiden: Brill. .p680.

Historians have identified Turkistan with the ancient town of Shavgar. In the Sogdian language, ghar means “mountain.” Persian and Arab geographers of the 4th/10th century mentioned it in their works.

The earliest layer of the site was a sanctuary, probably Zoroastrian, dating back to the 1st century BC.

Archaeologically, the ancient nucleus of the town is considered to be the “Kultobe” settlement within modern Turkistan. Excavation reports state that the city was known through different periods under the names Shavgar, then Yasi, and finally Turkistan; numismatic evidence and medieval stratigraphy confirm this.

In the Dehkhoda Dictionary, references to this town appear as follows: Shavghar was described as a province on the edge of Transoxiana, where there was a sandy desert beyond which “infidels” dwelt, and most of the people of Shavgar were canvas-weavers. It is also recorded in other Persian lexicons as a province in Transoxiana where the inhabitants were mainly weavers, adjacent to a sandy desert inhabited by infidels. It was considered among the lands of the Turks. A verse by Abu’l-‘Abbas in Lughat-e Furs by Asadi states: “My day is like midnight from its pain, My night from its memory like Shavgar.”

In later centuries, this city repeatedly changed hands: first under the Samanids, then during the Seljuq era, and in the 6th/12th century it became the scene of battles between the Turks and the Samanids.Bearman, P. J., Bianquis, Th., Bosworth, C. E., van Donzel, E., & Heinrichs, W. P. (Eds.). (2000). The Encyclopaedia of Islam. New Edition (Vol. X: T–U). Leiden: Brill. .p.680.

The city emerged as a commercial hub following the decline of Otrar, an ancient city with remnants located southeast near the Syr Darya. Owing to the impact of Ahmad Yasawi, and in honor of his legacy, the city evolved into a significant hub for spiritual growth and Islamic education for the inhabitants of the Kazakh steppes. In the 1390s, Timur, the Turco-Mongol leader and the originator of the Timurid dynasty, constructed an impressive domed mazar or mausoleum over Yasawi's resting place. This structure stands as one of the most notable architectural landmarks in Kazakhstan. Until 2006, its image was featured on the reverse side of the country's banknotes.

The city also boasts other significant historical landmarks such as a medieval bath-house and four mausoleums. One of these is dedicated to Rabiya Sultan Begim, Timur's great-granddaughter, while the other three pay tribute to Kazakh khans (rulers).

Prior to the 19th-century Russian arrival, Turkistan was positioned at the boundary between the established Perso-Islamic oasis civilization of Transoxiana to its south and the vast expanse of the Kazakh steppes to its north.

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Turkistan rose to prominence as the capital of the Kazakh Khanate, becoming the political epicenter of the Kazakh steppe. However, as the Russian Empire expanded its conquests and weakened the Kazakh Khanate, smaller southern states were overtaken. By 1864, Russian General Veryovkin had captured Turkistan for the Kokand Khanate. Subsequently, under Russian rule, it became a part of the Syr-Darya Oblast in the Governor-Generalship of Russian Turkistan. Following the collapse of the Tsarist regime between 1917-18, it briefly joined the Turkistan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. By 1924, it became a part of the Kazakh ASSR within Soviet Russia.

On June 19, 2018, Shymkent was removed from the South Kazakhstan Region and placed directly under the governance of Kazakhstan. Concurrently, Turkistan became the regional administrative hub, and the region was renamed the Turkistan Region.

In 2021, it was announced that the first 5G city will be set up in Turkistan. This project will be sponsored by Kcell and Ericsson.

Pilgrimage

The city draws thousands of pilgrims. As per local tradition, visiting Turkistan three times is akin to a single hajj to Mecca, a sentiment echoed in other revered sites across the Muslim world. Such high regard for the Saint led to Turkistan being dubbed the Second Mecca of the East, profoundly influencing the spiritual essence of Kazakhstan's Muslim community.

Demographics

Turkistan had a population of 165,000 in the 2019 census. The population rose by 10% from 1989 to 1999, making it the second fastest-growing town in Kazakhstan, after the new capital Astana.

The ethnic composition of the city:

• Kazakhs – 52.5%
• Uzbeks – 45.2%
• Other ethnic groups – 2.3%

The ethnic composition of the city according to the 1897 census:

• total – 11,253
• Uzbeks – 8,940 (79.4%)
• Kazakhs – 1,415 (12.5%)
• Tatars – 506 (4.4%)
• Russians – 312 (2.7%)

At the same time the ethnic composition of the Chimkent uyezd (Chimkent district) which included the city of Turkistan according to the 1897 census:

• total – 285,059
• Kazakhs – 224,704 (78.8%)
• Sart (non-nomadic Iranic, Turkic, or Mongolic people) – 32 043 (11.2%)
• Uzbeks – 20,709 (7.2%)
• Russians – 6 443 (2.2%)
• Tatars – 646 (0.2%)

Tourism

In 2021, Keruen-Saray, Central Asia's largest tourism complex, was opened in Turkistan. This unique attraction features merchants, artisans, a flying theater, an amphitheater for equestrian shows, a bazaar, hotels, restaurants, a spa and fitness center, a cinema, and a family entertainment center.

Transport

The city transport in Turkistan consists of buses and taxis.

Turkistan is served by Hazrat Sultan International Airport. It is located 15 km NE from the centre of city.

Geography and climate

Turkistan may be reached by train from Almaty, in a journey of nearly 20 hours. The road trip from the nearest airport at Shymkent takes about two hours.

Turkistan experiences a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with short, cold winters and long, dry, very hot summers. The vast majority of the annual precipitation falls between late autumn and late spring.

|Jan record high C=18.7 |Feb record high C=26.4 |Mar record high C=30.7 |Apr record high C=36.3 |May record high C=40.5 |Jun record high C=46.9 |Jul record high C=47.9 |Aug record high C=46.5 |Sep record high C=41.9 |Oct record high C=35.3 |Nov record high C=27.9 |Dec record high C=21.6 |year record high C=47.9 |Jan record low C=-33.6 |Feb record low C=-38.6 |Mar record low C=-25.0 |Apr record low C=-8.4 |May record low C=-2.8 |Jun record low C=3.2 |Jul record low C=6.4 |Aug record low C=3.4 |Sep record low C=-5.5 |Oct record low C=-14.3 |Nov record low C=-31.8 |Dec record low C=-33.0 |year record low C=-38.6 |Jan snow depth cm=4 |Feb snow depth cm=2 |Mar snow depth cm=0 |Apr snow depth cm=0 |May snow depth cm=0 |Jun snow depth cm=0 |Jul snow depth cm=0 |Aug snow depth cm=0 |Sep snow depth cm=0 |Oct snow depth cm=0 |Nov snow depth cm=0 |Dec snow depth cm=2 |year snow depth cm=4 | access-date = April 13, 2024 | access-date = September 17, 2016}}

Twin towns – sister cities

• TUR Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
• TUR Keçiören, Turkey
• AZE Shusha, Azerbaijan

Notes

References

References

1. (2024-10-01). "Азимбек Пазылбекулы назначен новым акимом Туркестана".
2. "Turkistan Declaration of the Informal Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States". Turkic Council.
3. (16 June 2021). "Kazakhstan Selects Top 10 Tourist Destinations".
4. "Encyclopædia Britannica (2007): Related Articles to "Ahmed Yesevi, or Ahmad Yasawi, or Ahmed Yasavi (Turkish author)", accessed March 18, 2007". Britannica.com.
5. "Archeological monuments of Turkistan". Natcom.unesco.kz.
6. (2000). "The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition". Brill.
7. (19 November 2020). "The most ancient site at the Kultobe settlement is a sanctuary of the I century BC, tells the scientist".
8. (19 November 2020). "The most ancient site at the Kultobe settlement is a sanctuary of the I century BC, tells the scientist".
9. [http://www.unesco.kz/natcom/turkestan/r07_turkest_cap.htm Туркестан — столица Казахского ханства]
10. (19 June 2018). "Публичное подписание Указа "О некоторых вопросах административно-территориального устройства Республики Казахстан"". President of Kazakhstan.
11. (13 December 2021). "First Fully 5G City in Kazakhstan to Be Founded in Turkistan".
12. Privatsky (2001)
13. [http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=894 Демоскоп Weekly — Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей]
14. [http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=892 Демоскоп Weekly — Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей]
15. (12 April 2021). "Turkistan Opens Keruen-Saray - Central Asia's Largest Tourist Complex".
16. "Turkestan Climate Normals 1961-1990". [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]].
17. "Weather and Climate - The Climate of Turkestan (Turkistan)". Weather and Climate (Погода и климат).
18. "Kardeş Şehir Hamm". Afyonkarahisar.
19. "Kardeş Belediyeler". Keçiören.
20. (2022-08-24). "Токаев и Алиев подписали декларацию об «укреплении стратегических отношений» между Казахстаном и Азербайджаном". [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.