Fair Trade of the Merchantry of the Steppe Region of the second half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century

The merchantry of the Steppe region of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, which began to extend actively after the completion of the accession of the Kazakh khanate to the Russian Empire. The accession of the steppe regions and the development of capitalist relations led to the penetration of West Siberian trade and industrial flow in the Steppe region. Fair trade established intermediary functions between settled agricultural and pastoral areas, satisfying the growing needs for food and industrial goods of the population of Akmola and Semipalatinsk regions. The state developed a whole system of measures to support trade relations between entrepreneurs and the formation of a single Siberian-Asian trade network. On the territory of the Steppe region, favorable conditions for the expansion of fair trade of the merchantry were created after carrying out administrative and territorial reforms of 1867-1868 by the Tsar's administration. Special attention has been paid to large merchants who made a significant contribution to the opening of large fairs, the establishment and development of trade and economic relations with neighboring regions and states. The role of merchants in the management of large and small fairs in the territory of the region and the role of a new class of rich people (bai) have been shown, which were directly related to the market. So, in conclusion, it should be noted that the existence of fairs and appearance in the region of fair management shows the professionalism and maturity of the fair merchants who made a significant contribution to the establishment of interregional economic relations and the spread of market relations in the region. Fairs became the prevailing trade form in the Steppe region, further development of which made huge changes in the organization of the trading network of the Steppe regions.