World Geography Today
Central Asia
Preview
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 18
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 1: Natural Environments
Read to Discover
• What are the major landforms and rivers of
Central Asia?
• What climates, biomes, and natural
resources does the region have?
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 1: Natural Environments
Landforms and Rivers
• Mountains—Altay Shan, Tian Shan, Pamirs, KopetDag, Fedchenko Glacier
• Plateaus and Plains—North and west from
mountains
• Caspian and Aral Seas
• Main Rivers—Amu Dar’ya, Syr Dar’ya, Irtysh
• Lakes—Lake Balkhash, Issyk-Kul
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 1: Natural Environments
Question
What are the climates, plants, animals, and
resources of Central Asia?
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 1: Natural Environments
Physical Geography of Central Asia
Climates
Arid, semiarid, Mediterranean, highland
Plants
Deciduous forests, walnut trees, evergreen
trees, grasses, shrubs, saxaul tree
Animals
Deer, pheasants, wild boar, snow leopards,
antelope, wildcats, wolves, domesticated
camels, goats, sheep
Resources
Water, coal, oil, natural gas, copper, lead,
nickel, zinc, gold
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 1: Natural Environments
Climates and Biomes
• Generally harsh, arid and semi-arid climates
• Two large deserts—Kara-Kum and Kyzyl Kum
• Small area in southern Turkmenistan with Mediterranean
climate
• Some foothills of Tian Shan have mild weather
• Some evergreen and deciduous forests; grasses and
shrubs at lower elevations
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 2: History and Culture
Read to Discover
• How have various cultures and invaders
affected the region’s history?
• What are some features of Central Asian
cultures?
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 2: History and Culture
Question
How have various groups influenced the
cultures of Central Asia?
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 2: History and Culture
Influences on Central Asian Cultures
Turkish Speakers
Brought Turkic languages
Arabs
Introduced Islam
Mongols under
Genghis Khan
Mongols
under Timur
Destroyed cities and irrigation systems
Russians
Irrigated and farmed deserts; built railroads
Soviets
Expanded cotton production; redrew political
boundaries; movement of Russians into region
Supported arts and literature; built mosques,
gardens, and palaces in Samarqand
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 2: History and Culture
Invasions and Migrations
• Alexander the Great brought Greek influences in the 300s B.C.
• Merchants promoted Silk Route trade.
• Turkic peoples and Chinese established rule.
• Arabic peoples brought Islam in 700s.
• Mongols conquered in 1218 and later supported thriving culture.
• Russians settled and built railroads.
• Soviets established cotton monoculture and factories.
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 2: History and Culture
Cultural Features
• Turkic customs and traditions dominate the area.
• Traditional activities include farming and nomadic
herding, with yurts.
• Around two-thirds of the people speak Turkic
languages; a sizable minority speak Russian.
• Islam is the main religion; Russians are
Christians.
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 2: History and Culture
Cultural Features (continued)
• Textiles of wool and silk are a traditional art,
woven into hats and carpets.
• Varied foods include tea, lamb, bread, rice, and
fruit.
• Excellent health care and education led to high
literacy rates and long life expectancy.
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 3: The Region Today
Read to Discover
• How has the economy of Central Asia changed
over time?
• What are the region’s cities like?
• What issues must Central Asia face to improve its
economy?
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 3: The Region Today
Question
What are the economic activities of
Central Asian countries?
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 3: The Region Today
Economic Activities in
Central Asia
Agriculture
• Crops—Barley,
cotton, fruits, rice,
tobacco, and
vegetables
• Irrigated and dryland
farming
• Herding camels,
cattle, goats, horses,
and sheep
Mining and
Industry
• Huge reserves of
minerals
• Outdated equipment,
corruption, poor
transportation, lack of
funds for investment
• Limited foreign
markets
Developing
Industries
• Oil and gas production
• Tourism
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 3: The Region Today
Economic Changes
• Attempts to diversify cotton monoculture by
adding new crops
• Mixing dryland farming with irrigation
• Possible development of mining and industry
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 3: The Region Today
Cities
• Few major cities, with few historic features
• Bukhara, Samarqand, and Tashkent still have
colorful markets, mosques
• Many plain, Soviet-era apartment buildings
• Smaller cities serve as starting points for tourists
• Kazakhstan moved capital closer to Europe
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Section 3: The Region Today
Issues for Economic Development
• General poverty
• Location—Poor access to global trade
• Water Problems—Water shortages and usage conflicts
• Corruption and lack of democracy
• Ethnic conflict and violence
• Environmental damage by Soviets
World Geography Today
Chapter 18
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
1.
Why is herding common in the region’s northern areas and
farming more common in the south?
2.
How did boundary changes during the Soviet era affect the
control that Central Asian governments have over their
territory?
3.
What are the main languages and religions in Central Asia?
Which language is losing status?
4.
What resources of Central Asia offer the possibility of wealth
in the future?
5.
How does Issyk-Kul contrast with some other areas in
Central Asia?