Modern Kazakhstan is the revived ancient steppes of Akmola, where the city of fabulous beauty is located - Astana.
In what year did Astana become the capital of Kazakhstan? And for what reasons? The main reason lies in the fact that the former capital has become problematic in environmental terms, as well as in its inconvenient location - in the very south of the country.
Let us recall the history of the formation of Kazakhstan.
Former capitals of Kazakhstan, XV – XVII centuries
When did Astana become the capital of Kazakhstan? Before she became her, many historical events took place in the republic.
It is very curious that in the whole history in Kazakhstan (including the times of the Kazakh Khanate) there were 9 capitals. True, some of them were capitals only a couple of years. Each represents a specific historical milestone.
The very first is the ancient city of Suzak (1465–1469). After the death of Khan Abulkhair, the capital was moved from the city. Now Suzak is a small village in the southern region.
The city of Sygnak was also once a major trade and craft center on the famous caravan route. Now around the settlement there is an extensive dry steppe overgrown with saxaul and thorny bushes.
The next capital of Turkestan (Iasi) is the spiritual and political center of the Turks. It became the main city of the Kazakh Khanate at the end of the 16th century and was it until the 1630s. This happened when the entire territory of the Middle Syr Darya became part of the Kazakh Khanate. Today this city is a center of pilgrimage for Muslims.
Even Tashkent (now the capital of Uzbekistan), conquered in 1586 by the Kazakhs, in 1630 (approximately) became the residence of the Kazakh Khanate for almost a hundred years.
Capitals of the 18th – 20th centuries
The history of the city of Semey (now Semipalatinsk) began in the 18th year of the 18th century. The foundation of this city is connected with the name of Tsar Peter I, who issued a decree on the protection of eastern lands and on the start of construction of the Irtysh military fortifications. Also, this city was a famous place of exile (XIX - XX centuries) of the political minds of the Russian empire.
The first fortress in Orenburg was founded in 1735 (on the site of the present Orsk) - a fortress by the river Or. The city was founded in 1743. He, as the capital of Kazakhstan, did not stay long during the RSFSR.
Since 1925, for 2 years, the capital was the city of Ak-Mechet on the Syr Darya River, then it was renamed Kzyl-Orda (Red Capital).
The former capital of Kazakhstan is Almaty
From 1929 to 1998, the capital of the republic was the city of Almaty. On the site of the city in the X-XIV centuries there was a settlement of Almaty. Subsequently, in 1854, Russian Cossacks settled in here. Large-scale development began in 1927, when the city received the status of the capital of autonomy. And to this day, it remains the largest cultural center of the country.
The huge transport load of highways, a large population (1.5 million people), dense buildings that do not allow the city to develop further, not very favorable ecological situation (one of the most problematic cities in terms of ecology) - all this led to a change in the capital in Kazakhstan.
