Chapter 18Chapter 18

Central AsiaCentral Asia

Natural EnvironmentNatural Environment

• ObjectivesObjectives– What are the major landforms and rivers What are the major landforms and rivers

and Central Asiaand Central Asia– What climates, biomes, and natural What climates, biomes, and natural

resources does the region have?resources does the region have?

““Stan” = Land or place in Stan” = Land or place in TurkishTurkish

LandformsLandforms

• Central Asia has a Central Asia has a vary diverse vary diverse elevationelevation

• Ranging from Ranging from below sea level to below sea level to huge mountainshuge mountains

• Glaciers are very Glaciers are very common in the common in the regions mountainsregions mountains

LandformsLandforms

• The region is very mountainous in the The region is very mountainous in the South and Southeast.South and Southeast.

• To the North and to the west of the To the North and to the west of the mountains are many plateaus and plains.mountains are many plateaus and plains.

• The mountains are the Tian Shan and the The mountains are the Tian Shan and the Pamirs ranges. Pamirs ranges. “Shan” = Mountain in “Shan” = Mountain in ChineseChinese– They were formed from tectonic activityThey were formed from tectonic activity

• Indian subcontinent is pushed into the rest of Asia.Indian subcontinent is pushed into the rest of Asia.

RiversRivers

• There are 2 major rivers in the regionThere are 2 major rivers in the region

• Amudar’yaAmudar’ya– Flows Northwest from the Pamirs Flows Northwest from the Pamirs

mountains into the Aral Seamountains into the Aral Sea

• SyrDar’yaSyrDar’ya– Also flows Northwest, but from the Tian Also flows Northwest, but from the Tian

Shan, into the Aral Sea.Shan, into the Aral Sea.

Aral SeaAral Sea

• Shrunk by 60% Shrunk by 60% since 1960since 1960

• Remember the Remember the Soviets lack on Soviets lack on environmental environmental concern?concern?

• They used the river They used the river to grow cropsto grow crops

Aral SeaAral Sea1989/20081989/2008

ClimatesClimates

• Most places have harsh climatesMost places have harsh climates

• High mountains block warm moist High mountains block warm moist oceanic air, and create a rain shadow.oceanic air, and create a rain shadow.– As a result, precipitation totals are low and As a result, precipitation totals are low and

there are extreme seasonal temperature there are extreme seasonal temperature ranges. ranges. Making Semiarid and Arid climates Making Semiarid and Arid climates common.common.•Summer can rise up to 115 degreesSummer can rise up to 115 degrees

•Winter lows have dropped to -36 degrees.Winter lows have dropped to -36 degrees.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

• Large dams generate electricity from Large dams generate electricity from snowmelt. Water is the most snowmelt. Water is the most important resource in this area.important resource in this area.

• Around the Caspian Sea there is a Around the Caspian Sea there is a huge amount of oil.huge amount of oil.

• Kazakhstan exports copper, iron, lead, Kazakhstan exports copper, iron, lead, and nickeland nickel

• Uzbekistan is a major gold producer.Uzbekistan is a major gold producer.

History and CultureHistory and Culture

• ObjectivesObjectives– 1. How have various 1. How have various

cultures and cultures and invaders affected invaders affected the region’s the region’s history?history?

– 2. What are some 2. What are some features of Central features of Central Asian cultures?Asian cultures?

HistoryHistory

• A.D 600 – Turkic speaking peoples A.D 600 – Turkic speaking peoples established kingdomsestablished kingdoms

• A.D 650 – Chinese armies conquered the A.D 650 – Chinese armies conquered the regionregion

• A.D 751 – Arab armies invaded the ChineseA.D 751 – Arab armies invaded the Chinese

• A.D 1218 – Mongols who were led by A.D 1218 – Mongols who were led by Ghengis KhanGhengis Khan took over took over

• A.D 1480 - Europeans found a better route A.D 1480 - Europeans found a better route to East Asia which isolated the region.to East Asia which isolated the region.

Genghis KhanGenghis Khan

Russian and Soviet RuleRussian and Soviet Rule

• The Russians were expanding in all The Russians were expanding in all directions in search of better farming and directions in search of better farming and therefore colonized Central Asia in the Mid therefore colonized Central Asia in the Mid 1800’s1800’s

• When the Soviets (Lenin) took over and When the Soviets (Lenin) took over and established the USSR, the Central Asian established the USSR, the Central Asian countries were called republics, but were countries were called republics, but were fully under Soviet control. fully under Soviet control. This helped in the This helped in the space race, where the USSR launched the space race, where the USSR launched the first manmade satellite, Sputnik, into orbit. first manmade satellite, Sputnik, into orbit.

The Soviets in Central AsiaThe Soviets in Central Asia

• The soviets built huge irrigation projects (Dry The soviets built huge irrigation projects (Dry Aral Sea) and built a cotton monoculture.Aral Sea) and built a cotton monoculture.

• When the USSR collapsed (1991), the republics When the USSR collapsed (1991), the republics declared their independence.declared their independence.

• Troublesome boundaries remained from the Troublesome boundaries remained from the Soviet Era. This was due to the Soviets Soviet Era. This was due to the Soviets creating boundaries to weaken the resistance. creating boundaries to weaken the resistance. – Ex. The countries now had to share rivers and Ex. The countries now had to share rivers and

irrigation canals. irrigation canals.

CultureCulture

• The entire region is sometimes referred to as The entire region is sometimes referred to as Turkistan because of the large Turkish influence Turkistan because of the large Turkish influence on the regionon the region

• Turkic heritage is still strong in the regionTurkic heritage is still strong in the region

• A large segment of the population was made up A large segment of the population was made up of Nomads(this is why there are few towns) of Nomads(this is why there are few towns) that that moved herds from mountainous pastures in the moved herds from mountainous pastures in the summer, to lowland pastures in the winters.summer, to lowland pastures in the winters.

• The most practiced religion in this region is The most practiced religion in this region is Islam.Islam.

NomadsNomads

• Nomads created yurts Nomads created yurts to make moving with to make moving with herds possibleherds possible

• Yurts are unique Yurts are unique movable homes made movable homes made of felt mats.of felt mats.

• People in the region People in the region still live in yurts and still live in yurts and may put them up for may put them up for weddings and weddings and funerals. funerals.

LanguageLanguage

• 2/3 of the regions people speak a 2/3 of the regions people speak a Turkic language. Turkic language.

• Russian is the main language for a Russian is the main language for a sizable minority, however because sizable minority, however because many Russians are returning to many Russians are returning to Russia, the use of the language is Russia, the use of the language is decreasing. decreasing.

• Why might Russians be returning to Why might Russians be returning to home?home?

The region todayThe region today

• ObjectivesObjectives– How has the How has the

economy of Central economy of Central Asia changed over Asia changed over time?time?

– What are the What are the region’s cities like?region’s cities like?

– What issues must What issues must Central Asia face to Central Asia face to improve its improve its economy?economy?

Economic ChangesEconomic Changes

• Corruption, poor Corruption, poor transportation links, transportation links, and a lack of cash and a lack of cash for investment have for investment have hurt development hurt development of industry. of industry.

• Many skilled Many skilled Russian workers are Russian workers are leaving the region.leaving the region.

Urban EnvironmentsUrban Environments

• There are few big There are few big cities, because cities, because throughout history throughout history the people were the people were nomads.nomads.

• Funds are not Funds are not available to upgrade available to upgrade citiescities

• Bukhara, UzbekistanBukhara, Uzbekistan

Issues and ChallenegesIssues and Challeneges

• The biggest problem is the countries The biggest problem is the countries are landlocked. What is the effect?are landlocked. What is the effect?

• The water in rivers is used upstream The water in rivers is used upstream for hydroelectricity.for hydroelectricity.

• The water is needed downstream for The water is needed downstream for irrigation.irrigation.

Political and EnvironmentalPolitical and Environmental

• The change from command to market The change from command to market economy has been tough on the region.economy has been tough on the region.

• Ethnic conflicts are very common in the Ethnic conflicts are very common in the region.region.

• Soviet agricultural, and industrial policies Soviet agricultural, and industrial policies damaged Central Asia’s land and water, with damaged Central Asia’s land and water, with the use of chemicalsthe use of chemicals. . Uzbekistan’s farmers are Uzbekistan’s farmers are using crop rotation to help improve the soil.using crop rotation to help improve the soil.

• Nuclear testing exposed millions to radiation, Nuclear testing exposed millions to radiation, causing birth defects and cancer. causing birth defects and cancer.