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 All of the countries in this region are landlocked  Many high mountain ranges through Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan  These rugged mountains ranges have contributed to the isolation of the Central Asia region.  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

 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.  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  The far north is the only part on Central Asia without a harsh climate.

Water, oil and gas, and minerals are key natural resources. 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 oil pipelines is difficult through the rugged mountains. Other minerals are also present. Kazakhstan has many mineral mines. Gold, silver, copper, zinc, uranium, and lead Also large amounts of coal

 Beginning in about 100 BC the best trade route between Europe and China ran through Central Asia and was called the Silk Road.  Cities along the road such as Samarqand’ and Bukhara, grew rich from the trade.  By 1500 Europeans were sailing to East Asia through the Indian Ocean, and trade through Central Asia declined.  Interest in the trade route sparked many invasions, among the first were Turkic- speaking nomads from northern Asia in AD 500.  Arab armies took over much of the region in the 700s and ruled until the 1200s.  Mongol armies conquered Central Asia in the 1200s, followed later by various tribes, such as the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and Turkmens.

 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 The Central Asian republics finally became independent countries.  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.

Several ethnic groups (all part of larger ethnic group, Turkic), including: – Kazakh – Kyrgyz – Turkmen – Uzbek – Russian 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. 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 Most countries in Central Asia now use the Latin alphabet.

KAZAKHSTANKYRGYZSTAN Shares a long border with Russia Growing economy based on oil reserves and quick adaptation to the free market Stable democratic republic with an elected president and parliament 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. Low standard of living, signs of strengthening economy Fairly stable government

TAJIKISTANTURKMENISTAN Republic with an elected president Relies on cotton farming; only 5-6 percent of country’s land is arable, or suitable for growing crops An elected president with total control Supports Islam, but not as political movement Economy based on oil, gas, and cotton

UZBEKISTAN AFGHANISTAN  An elected president with total control Government closely controls the economy. Economy based on oil, gold, and cotton Has the largest cities in the region  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.  After September 11, 2001, attacks, U.S. and British forces attacked Taliban and al Qaeda targets and toppled the Taliban government.  Has its own alphabet, which is used to write Pashto, one of its official languages  Only Central Asian country without huge reserves of oil and natural gas

 Central Asia faces issues and challenges in the areas of environment, economy and politics.  Aral Sea is shrinking due to excessive irrigation.  Central Asia’s economy relies on cotton.  Focus on cotton has not encouraged development of manufacturing industries.  Oil and gas development slowed by outdated tools, lack of funds, poor transport  Lack of political stability  Often faced with terrorist threats from different political groups within their own countries  Ethnic Russians live in all six Central Asian countries