ch. 16, sec. 2 and 3
TRANSCRIPT
Transcaucasia
Chapter 16, Section 2
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Gateway between Europe and Asia
Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Gateway between Europe and Asia Trade routes near
Black Sea led to Mediterranean Europe
Trade routes to far east from Caspian Sea
More than 50 different ethnic groups
Variety of languagesJabal Al-Alsun =
“Mountain of Language”
Gateway between Europe and Asia
# of different religions: Christian and Islamic most commonClose to the religions’
originsChristianity =
Jerusalem Islam = Mecca
History of Outside Control Russians invaded in 18th century
1723 – captured Baku, Azerbaijan1801 – annexed Georgia1828 – took control of large stretch of Armenia
History of Outside Control
Briefly independent from 1917 – 1920s when they were recaptured by the Red Army
Regained freedom in 1991
Modern Life
During communist rule, literacy rates rose to 99%Still have high quality education
Georgian supra (dinner party) is an important traditionLarge quantities of foodUse fresh locally grown foodMake many toasts throughout the evening
Central Asia
Chapter 16, Section 3
5 republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
Historical Crossroads Travelers called the Silk Road after the silk they bought
in China Also used for spreading ideas, technology, and religion Traffic slowed in the 14th century giving way to less
expensive sea routes
The Great GameGreat Britain and the Russian Empire
began to struggle for control of Central Asia
Russia was moving south and GB wanted to stop them before they reached India
Both sides recruited young officers who journeyed through the region in disguise to create maps and win over local people
Russian Empire gained control by the end of the 19th century
Nuclear TestingBetween 1949 and 1989 scientists
exploded 470 nuclear devices Underground explosions cracked walls in
towns 50 miles away
Nuclear Testing Nuclear fall out stretched for 180,000 square miles Exposure caused a dramatic rise in the rates of
leukemia, thyroid cancer, birth defects, and mental illness
Petroleum
Hoping oil industry will bring wealth to Central Asia
New “Great Game” as countries try to compete for profits
Leaders need to establish a stable political and legal institution for their people to benefit
Cultures Divided and Conquered
Before the Russian Revolution, ethnic groups were separated
Soviets purposely split up the ethnic groupsUsed tension between groups to prevent
oppositionMost groups are tied together through
religion: IslamMany speak languages related to Turkish or
they speak Russian
Survival of Tradition
Nomads live in the grassland of Central Asia
Move from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing
Forced to collective farms during Soviet rule
Have few possessions and usually carry what is most useful
Known for their beautiful hand-woven carpets
Yurt