3) Kazakhstan in the Bronze Age. “Andronovo culture."

In the Bronze Age (beginning of II century BC) appears and develops metallurgy of copper and bronze, ie was invented technology of bronze - an alloy of copper and tin. Therefore, this period was called - the Bronze Age.

The Bronze Age is divided into three periods:

1) Early Bronze - XVIII - XVI centuries. BC

2) Medium Bronze - XV - XIII centuries. BC

3) Late Bronze - XII - VIII centuries. BC

Andronovo culture of the Bronze Age. With the development of smelting mankind enters the next stage of its development. Since the basic material was an alloy of copper and tin, this period is called by archaeologists the Bronze Age. Bronze manufactures various tools, hoes, sickles, guns, jewelry. Development of metallurgy in combination with advanced integrated agro-pastoralism - the characteristic features of the Bronze Age archaeological last period of prehistory.

     With the formation of producing forms of farming in Kazakhstan there are new original cultural communities that continue the traditions of the Neolithic. All of these local groups were similar in many ways, allowing to allocate a new archaeological culture - Andronov. This culture takes its name from the place of the first discoveries in Minusinskaya Basin and is divided into two stages - the Early and Middle Bronze Age. Early Bronze Age is the name for the North Kazakhstan Fedorovsk, and for the Central - Nura period (HUSH-HU! cent. BCE). Average bronze in Northern Kazakhstan is called Alakol in the Central - atasus-who of the period (XY-XII centuries. BCE). Since the XII century. BC Andronovo culture is replaced by nomadic cultural communities Late Bronze: carcass - in West Kazakhstan and Begazy-data dybaevskoy - in the Central (VIII-XII centuries. BCE).

     Andron economy. For Andronovo culture is characterized by a complex ranching-crop farming in the floodplains of the rivers and on the shores of the lakes. Androns lived in dwellings such as semi-dugouts, covered with branches, hides and turf. Herding was mainly sedentary, pastoral. Bred goats, cows and camels. In floodplains Androns engaged hoe agriculture.

     A special branch of the economy Andronian tribes were mining and metallurgy. In the Bronze Age Kazakhstan was one of the first manufacturers of bronze in the world. The volume of melted metal were huge. So, just in Dzeskazgan received 100 tons of copper. Tin is in the Central Kazakhstan produced 130 tons, enough to melt 15 tons of pure bronze. And that's just on the workings explored. An important feature of the Andronovo culture was the use of ceramics. Manufactured vessels of various shapes - jar of the pot. Last richly ornamented. They used a geometric pattern, ie, meanders in the form of pieces of complex cross-parallel lines. Archaeological sites. In the early Bronze Age in north-western Kazakhstan appear large fortified settlements of city type. The most studied of these is the Arch, in the South Urals. It was a unique city with a clear layout, the two lines of fortifications, numerous craft shops. Only in the Urals and North-western Kazakhstan identified about two dozen of these early towns, dating from the eighteenth-Hoo! centuries BC Another interesting funerary rite Andron. Buried their dead in stone tombs formed from vertically set plates. Grave covered from above with a stone slab on which pours a low mound. The deceased was accompanied by a richly ornamented vessels, ornaments made of bronze and gold. Sometimes there are cases of cremation, the ashes were buried when the deceased.

     In Western Kazakhstan investigated Kirgildy burial and settlement Tasty-BUTAKOV relating to the Bronze Age. In the Central - burial Akshatau, Bougoula, settlements Botakara Nurinsky stage and monuments of Karabakh, Aysharak, Karasaj-atasuskogo. In East Kazakhstan investigated burial Kanai, Sarykol, Koytas. In northern Kazakhstan to Fedorovsky stage include burial Burabai, Obaly, Biirek Kol and Alakul - Alekseevskoe settlement and burial ground, burial grounds Yefimovka, Peter and Paul. Southern Kazakhstan and the Seven Rivers poorer monuments Andronov culture. Here investigated burial Tau Tara Kuyukty, Karakuduk.

     On the arid climate in Kazakhstan begins to emerge a new, more progressive type of farming - pastoral nomadism. The settlements were gradually transformed into hibernation, agriculture began to acquire ancillary character.

     In herd increased the proportion of horses and sheep that can be on the year-round grazing.

     This leads to the fact that in Central Kazakhstan integrated farming and herding Andronovo culture XII-X centuries. BC replaced by nomadic Begazy-Dandybay culture, named for the burial grounds and Begazy Dandybai. The distinguishing feature of this culture - the monumental burial structures with a complex layout. The impressive look and rich grave goods indicate their belonging to the tribal aristocracy, ie we are dealing with already created a stratified society, close to the formation of states.

     The social system. The use of metals and wheeled vehicles allowed Androns master the steppes of Kazakhstan and go from a sedentary cattle transhumance, which led to an increase in the herd of sheep and horses - the main wealth of ancient Kazakhstan. Among begins Andronov property differentiation, and frequent clashes with neighbors because of the good pasture and livestock - to the allocation of the environment of the community of the military aristocracy - warrior horsemen. By the beginning of the I millennium BC Tribal Community Andronov disintegrated from its environment hierarchically subordinated to distinguish three groups: a warrior aristocracy, priests and ordinary commoners.

     Androns lived by the Communities made up of several large patriarchal families. Several related communities formed a tribe. The sacred book "Avesta" refers to the tribes of the Aryans, tours, Hone, given, sairs, dignity, daha, I inhabited in the early century. BC steppes of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

     Gradually distant-pasture cattle in the desert gave way to a more productive means of production - a nomadic, which led to further growth of the productive forces and the complexity of the political system of the tribes inhabiting Kazakhstan.