The Social and Ethnic Composition of the Population Resettled to Turkestan from the Russian Empire

As a result of the gradual conquest of Central Asian territories by the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century, the Imperial government undertook systematic measures to resettle and accommodate European populations from the central and western gubernias of the Empire into the newly acquired territories.Individuals representing various social groups, including military personnel, peasants, workers, and other occupational categories, were involved in these resettlement processes.The ethnic composition of the migrants was equally diverse, encompassing representatives of numerous nationalities and ethnic groups.Upon their relocation to Turkestan, these settlers were compelled to adapt to unfamiliar conditions, including the climate, interactions and cooperation with the indigenous population, diverse religious beliefs, and the peculiarities of irrigated agriculture.Members of various ethnic groups, originating from different regions, had to establish friendly neighborly relations and cooperate closely with local communities.This article provides a scholarly analysis of the lifestyle, social characteristics, and ethnic composition of populations relocated from various regions of the Russian Empire to Turkestan.The findings of the research reveal that from the earliest stages of the Russian Empire's penetration into the region, people of various ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, and religious beliefs entered Turkestan under the collective name of "Russian".Although restrictive measures were applied towards specific national and religious groups, representatives of diverse ethnicities and religions continued to settle in the region, especially if their presence served imperial interests or contributed to mitigating social tensions within the central gubernias.