Transcript Chapter 18
Chapter 18 THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA I. The Countries of the Caucasus Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Caucasus Mountains Caucasus Mountains- crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, “mountains of a thousand languages” Diverse groups of people due to isolated valleys, fiercely independent and constantly fighting Foreign powers have tried to subdue them, get to oil deposits in Caspian Sea, hasn’t worked Georgia Language is unrelated to other languages, uses own unique alphabet Been trampled in many wars, joined with the Soviets, but declared independence in 1990 Tbilisi- capital, been capital for 1500 years! Officially helping US in war against terror, but the highlands in the North and South are suspected for hiding Muslim soldiers who fled Afghanistan Many Chechen rebels also live in the highlands Armenia Was an independent kingdom for 200 years, then defeated by the Ottoman Turks and Persian Empire Russia annexed Armenia during WWI In 1915, Turkey tried to exterminate the Armenians, killed 1.5 million people– Turks got away with it, emboldened Hitler later on Most densely populated country in Caucasus Orthodox in religion; First nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion Most threatened by Muslim neighbors- Azerbaijan Capital: Yerevan Azerbaijan Iran has been the greatest influence over Azerbaijan Speak Persian and practices Islam (Shiite majority) Baku, capital sits on the shore of the Caspian Sea Many believe the oil reserves in the Caspian Sea are greater than the Middle East, region has become a battleground II. Central Asia Central Asia- broad term, refers to all of the dry steppes between the Caspian Sea and China Home to many fierce nomads who launched raids into neighboring lands- Huns, Turks, Mongols The Silk Road through Central Asia linked East and the West Nations struggling to find place in modern world Shortage of water Landlocked Communist rulers Kazakhstan “giant” of Central Asia Only one to border Russia Capital: Astana pg. 456, capital was Almaty when under Soviet rule- still the largest city and the cultural hub Developed economy, most industrialized of the “stans”, large well-trained Russian minority supplies labor force Aral Sea in the middle- salt lake with no outlet to the ocean, over use for irrigation has shrunk the lake in just 30 years Turkmenistan Settled by Turks, speak Turkic languages, follow Islam Capital: Ashgabat desert covers 80% of the country Oil and natural gas make Turkmenistan the richest of the Central Asian countries Uzbekistan Capital: Tashkent Large population, but lacks wealth and resources, wanted all Central Asian countries to join as one after fall of Soviet Union and be Turkistan desert covers 80% of Uzbekistan Main crop is cotton- must use a lot of irrigation Aral Sea pg. 458 Kyrgyzstan Capital: Bishkek Major problem: ethnic groups are divided, dissimilar groups are put together, situation is ripe for conflict Dominated by the Tien Shan “celestial mountains” Runs 1000 miles from Tashkent to China Tajikistan Language and religion most like Iran, do not even share a border, natural inroad for Iran to influence Central Asia Capital: Dushanbe Pamir Mountains cover the eastern half Sometimes called the Pamir Knot, because it ties together the Tien Shan, Hindu Kush and the Himalayas Afghanistan Capital: Kabul Buffer State: Afghanistan was a neutral state btw 2 rivals (Britain and Russia) who agreed to keep armies out until it became a nation Russia tried to set up communist dictatorship in 1989, after Soviets gave up, country broke up into warring factions Taliban (“students”)- Islamic extremists finally restored order After 9-11, US invaded and overthrew the Taliban Major export: Opium, 87% of world’s amount Hindu Kush- mountain barrier across central Afghanistan Khyber Pass: allows easy passage through the Hindu Kushgreat armies used this pass (Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great)