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