Decadence of the post-Golden Horde era and the fate of religion in the Kazakh nomadic society of the 15th – early 18th centuries

Abstract

Research objectives: In response to the problem of diametrically opposed views on the Islamization of Kazakh nomads, this paper aims to present a new interpre­tation of the religion`s destiny in connection with post-Golden Horde decadence. In this regard, certain tasks must be addressed: to characterize new research trends; to substantiate the argument for the completion of Islamization under Uzbek Khan and the Muslim identity of the Kazakh Khanate; to propose a hypothesis on the religion’s crisis further in order to challenge the thesis of “Superficial Islam”. Research materials: The research used a variety of sources. Required information is contained in Muslim authors’ works such as those of Seyfi Chelebi, Fazlallah Ibn Ruzbihan, etc., as well as several Russian-European authors’ notes. Particular attention was paid to Kazakh genealogies and folklore. Results of the research: Serious differences in views on the time of the area’s full Islamization are revealed. An alternative point of view about the full-fledged Steppe Islamization already in 14th–early 15th centuries is justified. In general characteristics of Kazakh religion, its peculiar forms in accordance with the concept of regional Islam were not qualified as a pre-Islamic complex. At the same time, taking into account the evidence of Islam`s weakness in the Steppe of the later era, the authors propose a new approach – studying Islam in the context of the post-Golden Horde decadence. From this perspective, the idea of a gradual weakening of tradition and an institutional disintegration of religion “after Uzbek Khan” could be admitted.