Shokan Valikhanov (1835-1865) as a researcher of Kazakh history and culture

This research examines Shokan Valikhanov's life, scientific contributions and impact through his identity as a scientist. By examining Valikhanov's life and works in detail, the study aims to discuss his position in the scientific world in Kazakhstan and Turkestan and the legacy he left behind from a broad perspective. This approach will allow us to better understand Valikhanov's place in the scientific world and to comprehensively evaluate his influences. At the beginning of the study, an extensive literature review was conducted to identify and collect existing sources on Shokan Valikhanov's life, work and writings. The extant works of Valikhanov were used as the main source for this study. The content of these works, especially his contributions to various disciplines such as ethnography, history, geography and linguistics were analyzed with special emphasis. As a result of the study, it is concluded that Sh. Valikhanov's upbringing as a scientist; with his scientific contributions, especially in the fields of ethnography, history, religion, language and literature and folklore, he left a tremendous scientific heritage for future research on the history and culture of the Kazakh and other Turkestan peoples; again, he put into scientific circulation many resources such as his compilation works, translations, archaeological materials he collected; made many geographical, historical and ethnographic determinations, the accuracy of which would later be confirmed by the scientific expeditions he participated in; with all these works, it is evaluated that he fulfilled the task of creating a very important ground with his works in the national identity construction of all Turkestan peoples, especially his own people.