Paper Title
Islamization of The Kazakh Steppe in The Russian Empire

Abstract
The Russian management made the decision to integrate Kazakhs into the Russia on the basis of Islam. This decision was debatable because Kazakhs practiced Islam superficially. But Catherine II considered Islamic orientation of Kazakhs as a reality and had to reckon with it in order to avoid revolts. According to this approach the Orenburg administration systematically sent local mullahs to the Kazakh steppe. During 75 years (1791-1865) the number of the mullahs sent from Orenburg increased in 39 times. Keywords - Islamization; Acculturation; Incorporation; Kazakh steppe; the Russian Empire.