Transcript Main Ideas

Chapter 10 – Central Asia
Section Notes
Video
Physical Geography
History and Culture
Central Asia Today
Close-up
Inside a Yurt
World Almanac
Standard of Living in Central
Asia
Quick Facts
Chapter 10 Visual Summary
Impact of Progress in Afghanistan
Maps
Central Asia: Political
Central Asia: Physical
Central Asia: Land Use and Resources
Languages of Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan
Central Asia
Farmland in Central Asia
Images
Geography
Cotton Harvest
Arab Influence on Central Asia
Ethnic Groups of Central Asia
Focus on Culture: Turkmen Carpets
Physical Geography
The Big Idea
Central Asia, a dry, rugged, landlocked region, has oil and
other valuable mineral resources.
Main Ideas
• Key physical features of landlocked Central Asia include
rugged mountains.
• Central Asia has a harsh, dry climate that makes it
difficult for vegetation to grow.
• Key natural resources in Central Asia include water, oil
and gas, and minerals.
Main Idea 1:
Key physical features of landlocked Central
Asia include rugged mountains.
•
All of the countries in this region are landlocked, or completely
surrounded by land with no direct access to the ocean.
Mountains
• Many high mountain
ranges through
Afghanistan,
Tajikistan, and
Kyrgyzstan
• Large glaciers in
high mountains
such as the Pamirs
• The mountains have
contributed to the
region’s isolation.
• Frequent
earthquakes
Plains and Plateaus
• From mountains in
east, the land
gradually slopes
westward.
• The central part of
the region is
covered with plains
and low plateaus.
• The plains region is
the site of the fertile
Fergana Valley, a
major center of
farming in the
region for
thousands of years.
Rivers and Lakes
• Two rivers, the Syr
Darya and the Amu
Darya, flow through
the Fergana Valley
from eastern
mountains into the
Aral Sea, which is
really a large lake.
• Another important
lake, Lake
Balkhash, has
freshwater at one
end and salty water
at the other end.
Main Idea 2:
Central Asia has a harsh, dry climate
that makes it difficult for vegetation to grow.
High peaks in
the eastern
mountain area
are too cold,
dry, and windy
for vegetation.
Two deserts—
the Kara-Kum
and the Kyzyl
Kum—have
extremely high
temperatures.
Temperature
ranges are not
so extreme in
the north and
rainfall is heavy
enough for
plants to grow.
Main Idea 3:
Key natural resources in Central Asia include
water, oil and gas, and minerals.
• Main water sources are the Syr Darya and Amu Darya
rivers.
• Conflict between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan over how
to use the water from the rivers
• River water used mostly to irrigate cotton fields
• So much water from the rivers is used for irrigation that
almost no water reaches the Aral Sea today.
• Central Asia’s rivers also supply power.
• Large dams on the rivers generate hydroelectricity.
Oil and Other Resources
Oil
•
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan have huge reserves of
oil and natural gas.
•
Reserves must be exported to benefit the countries.
•
With no ocean port, oil and gas must be transported through
pipelines.
•
Building and maintaining pipelines is difficult through the rugged
terrain.
Other Resources
•
Other minerals are also present.
•
Kazakhstan has many mineral mines.
•
Gold, silver, copper, zinc, uranium, and lead
•
Also large amounts of coal
History and Culture
The Big Idea
The countries of Central Asia share similar histories and
traditions, but particular ethnic groups give each country
a unique culture.
Main Ideas
• Throughout history, many different groups have
conquered Central Asia.
• Many different ethnic groups and their traditions influence
culture in Central Asia.
Main Idea 1:
Throughout history, many different groups
have conquered Central Asia.
Trade
Invasions
• Beginning in about 100 BC
the best trade route between
Europe and China ran
through Central Asia and was
called the Silk Road.
• Interest in the trade route
sparked many invasions,
among the first were Turkicspeaking nomads from
northern Asia in AD 500.
• Cities along the road, such as
Samarqand and Bukhara,
grew rich from the trade.
• Arab armies took over much
of the region in the 700s and
ruled until the 1200s.
• By 1500 Europeans were
sailing to East Asia through
the Indian Ocean, and trade
through Central Asia
declined.
• Mongol armies conquered
Central Asia in the 1200s,
followed later by various
tribes, such as the Uzbeks,
Kazakhs, and Turkmens.
Russian and Soviet Rule
• The Russians conquered Central Asia in the mid-1800s.
– Built railroads
– Expanded cotton and oil production
– Rule came to be resented
• After the Russian Revolution in 1917 the new Soviet
leaders weakened resistance to their rule by dividing
Central Asia into republics.
– They encouraged ethnic Russians to move to these areas
and made other people settle on government-owned farms.
• The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The Central Asian
republics finally became independent countries.
Main Idea 2:
Many different ethnic groups and their
traditions influence culture in Central Asia.
• For centuries Central Asians have made a living by
raising horses, cattle, sheep, and goats.
• Many herders live as nomads, people who move often
from place to place.
• Unique homes, called yurts, make moving with the herds
possible. A yurt is a movable round house made of wool
felt mats hung over a wood frame.
People, Languages, and Religion
People
• Several ethnic
groups (all part of
larger ethnic group,
Turkic), including:
– Kazakh
– Kyrgyz
– Turkmen
– Uzbek
– Russian
Languages
• Each ethnic group
speaks its own
language.
• In most countries,
more than one
language is spoken.
• When the Russians
conquered the
region, they
established Russian
as the official
language.
• They also
introduced the
Cyrillic alphabet,
but most countries
now use the Latin
alphabet.
Religion
• Traders and
conquerors brought
their religious
beliefs to the
region.
• Islam is the main
religion in Central
Asia.
• Most of the region’s
Christians attend
the Russian
Orthodox Church.
Central Asia Today
The Big Idea
Central Asian countries are mostly poor, but they are
working to create stable governments and sound
economies.
Main Ideas
• The countries of Central Asia are working to develop their
economies and to improve political stability in the region.
• The countries of Central Asia face issues and challenges
related to the environment, the economy, and politics.
Main Idea 1:The countries of Central Asia
are working to develop their economies and
to improve political stability in the region.
• Taliban used strict interpretation
Afghanistan
• Long war with the Soviet
Union in the 1980s
• In the mid-1990s a
radical Muslim group, the
Taliban, took over most
of the country, including
the capital, Kabul.
• There are opposing
groups that want control
which are causing
stability issues for the
government
of Islamic teachings to rule
country.
• Women’s role was limited; had
to wear veils, stop working,
music and dancing banned
• After 9/11, U.S. and British
forces attacked Taliban and al
Qaeda targets and toppled the
Taliban government.
• The new government has a new
constitution, new voting
regulations, and a new national
assembly that includes women.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
• Strong Russian influence; it was the first Central Asian country
to be conquered.
• The economy was tied to the Soviet Union and suffered when it
collapsed.
• Growing economy based on oil reserves and quick adaptation to
the free market (being able to buy and sell goods at any cost)
• Stable democratic republic with an elected president and
parliament
Kyrgyzstan
• Clan membership and nomadic traditions are important.
• Mix of irrigated crops and dryland farming, or farming that
relies on rainfall instead of irrigation, is most important industry.
Tourism may help improve the economy.
• Low standard of living, signs of strengthening economy
• Fairly stable government
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
•
After years of conflict between Communist and Reform groups the
nation is now a republic with an elected president
•
Following years of civil war industrial/ agricultural production declined.
•
Relies on cotton farming; only 5-6 percent of country’s land is arable,
or suitable for growing crops
Turkmenistan
•
Parliament with president for life who holds all the power
•
He has named a month for himself, and his face appears everywhere.
•
Supports Islam, but not as political movement (not to be the govt)
•
Economy based on oil, gas, and cotton
Uzbekistan
• President who holds all the power and has been criticized for
lack of freedom and human rights.
• Government closely controls the economy.
• Economy based on oil, gold, and cotton
Main Idea 2:
The countries of Central Asia
face issues and challenges related to
the environment, the economy, and politics.
Environmental
Challenges
• Shrinking of the
Aral Sea, with
dust storms and
impact on the
fishing industry
• Radiation left
over from
Soviet nuclear
bomb testing
• Overuse of
chemicals in
crop production
Economic
Challenges
Political
Challenges
• Reliance on one
crop, cotton
• Lack of political
stability
• Focus on cotton
has not
encouraged
development of
manufacturing
industries.
• Often faced
with terrorist
threats from
different
political groups
within their own
countries
• Oil and gas
development
slowed by
outdated tools,
lack of funds,
poor transport
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