What is the history and significance of the Cyrillic alphabet in Kazakhstan?

The Cyrillic alphabet was adopted by Kazakhstan in 1940, replacing the Latin alphabet. It was introduced during the Soviet era to promote literacy and standardize written language. It’s a direct descendant of the Church Slavonic script, which itself originated in 9th-century Bulgaria, adopted by the Byzantine Empire, and influenced the Cyrillic scripts used in many Slavic languages, including Kazakh. The adoption was a significant political and cultural move, reflecting the Soviet Union’s efforts to unify and standardize its diverse populations. The choice of Cyrillic was a deliberate decision, emphasizing the connection between Kazakhstan and the broader Slavic world and contributing to national identity formation.