Abstract
G.N. Potanin is one of the great travelers who made a significant contribution to the studies of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. During his trips to Kazakhstan, the researcher did not limit himself with physical and geographical description of the localities covered by the expedition, he established the regions of Kazakhstan suitable for farming and noted that in these places the Kazakhs successfully develop land without external motives. G.N. Potanin studied the life, customs, beliefs, culture, legends of various peoples inhabiting the territory of Central Asia including Kazakhs and their clan-tribal composition with great interest. A prominent place in his study is taken by legends and tales of the Kazakh people.New in the history of Kazakhstan is the investigated by G.N. Potanin position of Kazakh farmers-eginchas, representing the estate of leaser-peasants. Afterstudying the working conditions of workers in the gold mines of Siberia and the Kazakh steppe, the scientist established that the workers both in the taiga andin the steppe are in the bondage position from the gold miners and demanded from the authorities a radical reform to improve the life of workers, regardless of their location. On the example of the Irtysh Cossacks and Kazakhs, G.N. Potanin showed the commonality of their views on the world. The friendship of Ch.Ch. Valikhanov and G.N. Potanin is the brightest example to follow for the younger generation. During the expedition to Mongolia and China 1876–1877, 1879–1880, 1884–1886 and 1899 he explored the Turkic and Mongolian monuments of antiquity and the clan-tribal composition of the population of northwestern Mongolia. The scientist described in detail the group of Utay monasteries and the shrine Ordos-Ihi-Ezhen-Khoro, the tomb of Genghis Khan. The Kazakh people highly appreciate G.N. Potanin for his democratic view.DOI 10.14258/izvasu(2017)5-07