MS. MILLER

CENTRAL ASIA

Central Asia: Countries

KazakhstanUzbekistanTurkmenistanAfghanistanTajikistanKyrgyzstan

Why do all these countries end in “stan”? “Stan” means “Land Of”

CENTRAL ASIA TIMELINE

100 B.C. • Silk Road

1200s• Mongol Armies

Mid- 1800s• Russia

Democracy vs. Communism

DEMOCRACY COMMUNISMPresident Elected

by the PeopleLeader chosen by previous leader

System of Checks and Balances

Collective Ownership

Freedom to Choose(make your own

wealth)

Shared Wealth

Central Asia: GeographyLandlocked

There is no direct access to the ocean

Mountains Pamirs

Mainly in Tajikistan Hindu Kush Mt.

AfghanistanPlains and PlateausRivers and Lakes

Pamirs

Central Asia: Plains and PlateusPlains and Plateaus

Land slopes downward from east to west (Tajikistan Caspian Sea)

The area between the mts and Caspian Sea is covered with plains and low plateaus

Fergana Valley Uzbekistan Major center of

farming

Fergana Valley.- Farming land

used especially for cotton production

Central Asia: Major Rivers and Lakes

Rivers and Lakes Two rivers flow through

the Fergana Valley:1. Syr Darya2. Amu Darya

These rivers flow into the Aral Sea Located between

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

Lake Balkhash Fresh water at one end,

salty water at the other end

KazakhstanLake Balkhash and Kazakhstan flag

ARAL

SEA

Central Asia: Major Rivers and Lakes

Caspian Sea World’s largest lake Landlocked Over 130 rivers flow

into the Caspian Sea Volga River is the

largest river that flows into it

Oil in Caspian Basin (floor of the Caspian sea)

Oil Rigs in the Caspian Sea

Central Asia: Natural ResourcesOil and Gas

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan have oil and gas

Oil and gas only beneficial if it’s exported Landlocked, no ocean

ports, have to transport it through pipelines hard to build and

maintain Economic and

political turmoil

Water Main water sources

are the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers Conflict over how to

use them Use water to irrigate

cotton fields Hydroelectricity

Central Asia: AfghanistanCapital: KabulLong war with the

Soviet Union (Russia) in the 1980s

Taliban Mid-1990s Radical Muslim group Ended with U.S.

conflict (9/11)

Central Asia: KazakhstanCapital: AstanaFirst part of Central Asia

to be conquered by the Russians

Economy was once tied to former Soviet Union (Russia) Economy suffered when

the Soviet Union collapsedOil allowed for the

economy to grow backRichest country in

Central Asia Downtown Astana

Central Asia: KyrgyzstanCapital: BishkekKyrgyz means “forty

clans”Farming is the most

important industry Mix of irrigated crops

and dryland farming Does not provide much

income

Central Asia: TajikistanCapital: DushanbePolitical turmoil in

the mid-1990sNow a republic with

an elected PresidentEconomy damaged by

years of civil warCotton is important

for country’s incomeOnly 5 to 6 percent of

the land is arablePamirs

Central Asia: TurkmenistanCapital: AshgabatPresident holds all the

power in the country Voted President for life by

the country’s parliamentSupport IslamEconomy based on oil,

gas, and cottonHalf of its country is

planted with cotton fieldsHas the longest irrigation

channel in the world!Mosque outside of Ashgabat

Central Asia: UzbekistanCapital: TashkentLargest population of

Central Asian countriesLargest Cities

Bukhara Samarqand Famous for mosques and

monumentsGovernment closely

controls the economyEconomy is based on

oil, gold, and cottonMosque in Bukhara