The Formation of Russian Oriental Studies and Turkology: From the Era of Peter I to the beginning of the 20th century

The article examines the formation and historical development of Russian Oriental studies and Turkology in a chronological manner.Beginning with the initial initiatives during the reign of Peter I, it traces the trajectory through the scientific expeditions and cartographic works of the eighteenth century, the "golden age" of the nineteenth century, and the scholarly contributions of V.V. Velyaminov-Zernov and V.V. Radlov.The study highlights the establishment of the institutional foundations of Oriental scholarship, the introduction of the history and languages of Turkic peoples into academic circulation, the first scientific consideration of sources on the formation of the Kazakh Khanate, and the consolidation of Turkology as an independent discipline.The findings underscore the significance and role of Oriental studies and Turkology within Russian scholarship, as well as the decisive stages in the study of Turkic history.In the course of Turkology's development, particular attention was devoted to the history and culture of the Kazakh people, which opened the way for new advances in national historiography.Overall, the article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of Russian Oriental studies and Turkology, elucidating their place and scholarly importance in the study of Turkic peoples' history.