Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Shymkent yakavambwa muzana ramakore regumi nembiri secaravanserai kudzivirira guta riri pedyo reSilk Road, Sayram, makiromita gumi kumabvazuva. Shymkent yakakura senzvimbo yaitengeswa zvinhu pakati pevaTurkic vaifamba-famba nevaSogdians vaigara ikoko. Rakaparadzwa kanoverengeka: naGenghis Khan, varwi vaibva kumaodzanyemba kweKhanates, uye nokurwiswa navafambi. Mukutanga kwezana ramakore rechi19, rakava rutivi rweKhanate yeKokand isati yave
yakatorwa navaRussia muna 1864. Yakapiwa zita rokuti Chernyaev muna 1914 uye rakatumidzwazve kuti "Shymkent" muna 1924. Pashure pokukunda kweRussia, Shymkent yaiva guta rokutengeserana pakati pevaTurkey vaifamba-famba nevaTurkey vaigara munzvimbo imwe chete, uye yaiva nomukurumbira nokuda kwemakumi ayo.