Abstract:
The social order of Kazakh society, taking into account its specific
features, was determined by both economic and traditional factors. These factors
affected the social stratification of the population.
the new formation, affluent individuals, known as bais, began to play an
increasingly important role. The status of a bai combined two aspects – an economic
and a political one. In the social structure, their economic importance was defined
by the size of their property, as wealth was a key factor in achieving a “prosperous
and peaceful life”. This, in turn, ensured their political importance and influence. In
historiography, there is no universally recognized understanding of the functional
differences of bai from other social groups. The available material implies a wide
range of interpretations: a bai could be a merchant, a wealthy livestock owner,
an entrepreneur who appeared in the wake of economic reforms in the second
half of the 19th century. In addition, the term “bai” could be used to refer to any
wealthy person, while a social group is an association of people based on common
characteristics, they are grouped into one social stratum. This article is aimed to
analyze the theoretical and methodological aspects of the social status of baistvo in
the Kazakh society.
