Central Asia & the Caucusus

Landforms

Physical Geography

Mountains

The Caucusus Mountains lie between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea

They separate Russia from Central Asia

Water Features

Aral Sea

Caspian Sea

Natural Resources

Turkmenistan has the world’s largest supplies of sulfur and sulfates

Sulfate is used in glass, paperboard, and detergent

The region is also known for chromium, gold, lead, manganese, and zinc

Climate Desert & Steppe

Deserts:

about 10 inches of rainfall per year

Cold winters with freezing temperatures

Nomadic animals graze on brush

Steppe:

Borders deserts

Less than 14 inches of rain per year

Allows short grasses to grow

Pastoralism: the raising and grazing of livestock

The People of Central Asia

Predominant Ethnic Groups and Traditional Garb

Pashtun (Afghanistan)

Armenian & Georgian (Caucasus)

Uzbeks & Kazakhs (Turkic Peoples Outside of Turkey)

Population Density

Most populous country in region: Afghanistan

Population displaced by conflict

Armenian Genocide Mass emigration after takeover by Soviet

Union produced harsh conditions Kyrgyzstan

Population Distribution

Population is spread unevenly

Why might that be?

Tajikistan: people settle in river valleys

Amu Dar’ya Syr Dar’ya

History & Gov’t

Crossroads of European and Asian cultures

Silk Road

led to prosperity for certain areas

Also inspired invasions by the Mongols, Greeks, Persians, Arabs, and Ottoman Turks

Crossroads of Culture

Armenia is surrounded by countries whose inhabitants identify as Muslim, but over 90% of Armenians practice Christianity

Azerbaijan is surrounded by Christian countries in the Caucasus, but maintains an Islamic culture

Armenia is classified as an enclave: a territory that is culturally or ethnically different from surrounding larger cultures

Azerbaijan is considered an exclave: a distinct group of people who are isolated from the main/larger part of the country

Central Asia and the USSR

Harsh conditions led to people fleeing the region during the Soviet Era

After the fall of the USSR, many countries declared independence

Armenia has some economic stability and reform

Tajikistan was chaotic without central authority

Most of Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban

Poverty and unemployment widespread

Armenia, Georgia, & Kazakhstan hope that oil and gas will stabilize the economy

Language

Turkic languages are the most common

Georgia is the only country in the region with a wholly unique language and alphabet

Russian is still the official language of Kazakhstan and widely spoken in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Georgian Alphabet and Pronunciation Chart

Religion

Islam is most popular

Most countries follow the Sunni branch

Azerbaijan follows the Shia branch

Christianity is the major religion in Armenia and Georgia

90% of Armenians follow the Armenian Apostolic Church (300s AD)

Georgia uses follows the Georgian Orthodox Church

Life

Universal education

Mandatory through secondary schools for many countries

Literacy roughly 88% for most countries (Tajikistan)

Afghanistan & Uzbekistan lagging

Armenia & Georgia near 99%

Healthcare poor since dissolution of USSR

Little money to spend on social programs after years of conflict

Region known for literary tradition

Suppressed during Soviet Era

Economy and Human Impact

Economy

Azerbaijan has the most arable land in the region (21%)

Turkmenistan has the least arable land (5%)

In Afghanistan, 67% of people depend on farming but only 12% of the land is arable

Climate plays a role

Georgia is known for citrus fruits (humid subtropical climate)

Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cotton producers

Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan raise silkworms

Azerbaijan exports wheat, cotton, potatoes, and tea

Kazakhstan produces large amounts of grain

Oil pipelines from Azerbaijan to Georgia

Transportation

Much of the region is reliant upon roads instead of waterways or ports

Mountains and deserts make building roads difficult and expensive

(Fairly) Recent development: 1998 Tajikistan unveils railroad system

Some Central Asian countries have their own airlines

Communications

Desert makes communications difficult

Satellites are improving communications services

Cell phone usage is growing

1998 – 16,767 mile telecommunications cable follows Silk Road route

Plans to create Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA)

Hope to promote peace and regional cooperation, increase access to worldwide markets, improve routes to landlocked countries, and access oil and gas deposits in Caspian region

The End

Mini Poster

Computer paper & colored pencils

Draw and label the most important aspects for

Physical

Cultural

Human impact

When you are done, explain your drawings in small groups and turn in