Central Asia
By: Alisha Karim, Shamya Herao, Alikhan Surani ,Sarah Asmaty
Land & Features
Main products-Main Products: wheat, corn, cotton, tobacco, natural gas, gold, and iron ore: Cotten is the main crop on Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Climate: Central Asia is a land locked region by the time winds reach the region, They have released all their moisture, so there is very little rain.
Wealth/Poverty: Some people are poor and rich. It depends on if they are big person there or if they have a good job
Diversity: Uzbeks in Uzbekistan, Turkmen in Turkmenistan.
Traditions: Uzbek has been shaped by the great Silk Road
History
History- 600 Jan. 1:kingdoms are established in Central Asia. 650:The Chinese people take over Central Asia. 700:Arabians brought the religion Islam and invaded Central Asia.1218:Mongolians began ruling Central Asia for 200 years. 1300:Timur (1370-1405) became ruler. He supported art, literature, and science. He built gardens ,mosques, and palaces. 1400:Europeans stops using the Silk Road and trade decreased in Central Asia . 1405:Timur died and the empire broke up into nations . 1800:Russians controlled Central Asia. 1917:Soviet government took power of Central Asia. They separate people and resources. 1991:The Soviet government collapse and Central Asia declares independence!
Countries and capitals-
Kazakhstan-Astana
Uzbekistan-Tashkent
Turkmenistan-Ashgabat
Kyrgyzstan-Bishkek
Tajikistan-Dushanbe
Significance-central Asia has oil and natural gas. Many places get it from Central Asia.
Ancient areas- Burkhart was one of the earliest centers of learning in Muslim history. There are also many famous madrasahs. In the 10th century Rudaki Ismail lived in Burkhart. In the 11th century Inn Sina wrote a famous medicine book.
Samarquand- In the late 14th century timur made Sanaruand the capitol. His grandson Ulugh Beg made Samarquand a major learning center and he built large madrasahs.
Changing lifestyles- Before people were nomads and looked for new pastures. Now people live in towns to work in factories. The land is used to grow food.
People- People are named after the countries. They can be found in their neighboring countries.
Culture & Heritage
Languages- middle Iranian languages were one spoken throughout Central Asia, such as the once prominent Sogdian, Khwarezmian, Bactrian, and Scythian, which are now extinct and belonged to the Eastern Iranian family. The Eastern Iranian Pashto language is still spoken in Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan.
Religions- Hindu, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Chinese, Judaism.
Festivals- Asia has a variety of festivals and celebrations .
In China , Chinese New year, Dragon Boat Festival are traditional holidays ,while National Day is a holiday of people Republic of China .
In Japan ,Japanese New Year, National Foundation Day, Children's Day, O-bon ,The Emperors Birthday ,and Christmas are popular.According to Japanese syncretism , most Japanese celebrate Buddhisms O-bon in midsummer ,Shintos shichi -Go-San in November ,and Christmas and Hatsumoude in winter together
Places of Worship- Sanat, Bahai, temples, mosques, churches
Food- plov, laghman, somsa, shashlik, manti, shorpa, borscht, pelmeni, bread, dries fruits and nuts, tea, head and legs soup, chal, Hunon, zhuta, cheese Somsa, Kurut, oromo and beshmark.
Arts/Dances- the buildings from the Timurid period- such as those in Samarqand's Registan Square-are a constant reminder of the glorious past of Central Asia. The past Is still remembered in the poems, songs and dances of the local people, who practice skills that have been handed down the generations.
Something distinct -Culture identity, Taj mahal, Ethnic groups.
Muslim Concentration
Muslim history- Islam was introduced in central Asia not long after prophet Muhammad time. Arab armies were followed by Muslims traders and merchants who started using the silk route . Shia and Sufi pirs also converted large numbers of people to Islam
In the centuries that follow , most of the people in central Asia became Muslims today ,over 75 percent of central Asias total population follow the religion of Islam
Muslims have had a mixed history in central Asia . in the 1200 ,mongols from china invaded Muslims lands, but were eventually converted to Islam. In the 14th and 15th centuries. Central Asia was ruled by the timurid dynasty.
In the modern period, the Muslims of central Asia could not practice their faith openly because because of the soviet rule. Now that they have achieved their independence the Muslims of this region are rediscovering their history and heritage.
In the centuries that follow ,most
Percentage-
Worship style-