Central Asian Central Asian PastoralistsPastoralists

From Genghis Khan to the From Genghis Khan to the KirghizKirghiz

Introduction to Central AsiaIntroduction to Central Asia

To most in North America, Central To most in North America, Central Asia is in the middle of nowhereAsia is in the middle of nowhere

But out of nowhere came the hordes But out of nowhere came the hordes of Genghis Kahn and his successorsof Genghis Kahn and his successors

Later, under Soviet control, Central Later, under Soviet control, Central Asia was a nuclear testing groundAsia was a nuclear testing ground

Since then, oil and gas have been Since then, oil and gas have been discovered in several republicsdiscovered in several republics

Location of Central Asia Location of Central Asia

These comprise the Islamic republics of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, These comprise the Islamic republics of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, as well as Azerbaijan to the west.Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, as well as Azerbaijan to the west.

Plus the Christian republics of Armenia and GeorgiaPlus the Christian republics of Armenia and Georgia

Cultures of Central Asia: Cultures of Central Asia: OverviewOverview

Central Asia is best known Central Asia is best known for:for:

The Silk Road, which linked The Silk Road, which linked Europe with Asia in trade Europe with Asia in trade (left)(left)

Nomadic peoples, including Nomadic peoples, including Mongols, Kirghiz, and KazaksMongols, Kirghiz, and Kazaks

Mongols under Genghis Khan Mongols under Genghis Khan were known as pillagerswere known as pillagers

But they also created a space But they also created a space for extending secure trade for extending secure trade routes, including the Silk routes, including the Silk RoadRoad

Central Asia: Physical GeographyCentral Asia: Physical Geography

The region is mountainous (purple)The region is mountainous (purple) With extensive deserts (tan)With extensive deserts (tan) And semi-arid steppes or grassland (salmon)And semi-arid steppes or grassland (salmon)

Central Asia: Physical Central Asia: Physical Geographical DescriptionGeographical Description

The landscape includes the Caucasus The landscape includes the Caucasus Mountains to the west;Mountains to the west;

The Tian Shan mountains to the The Tian Shan mountains to the south and southeastsouth and southeast

Extensive deserts (Taklamakan, Kara Extensive deserts (Taklamakan, Kara Kum, and Kyzyl Kum) Kum, and Kyzyl Kum)

Broad-ranging semi-arid grasslands Broad-ranging semi-arid grasslands known as the steppeknown as the steppe

PastoralismPastoralism The steppes, like other grasslands, were The steppes, like other grasslands, were

unsuitable for non-mechanized unsuitable for non-mechanized agricultureagriculture

Reason: Sod is impenetrable with hoe Reason: Sod is impenetrable with hoe and other agricultural implementsand other agricultural implements

As elsewhere, herding draft (working) As elsewhere, herding draft (working) animals is the most effective means of animals is the most effective means of exploiting grasslandsexploiting grasslands

In North America, plains Indians used In North America, plains Indians used horses to hunt bison, also an effective horses to hunt bison, also an effective use of the grasslandsuse of the grasslands

In the steppes of Central Asia, horses In the steppes of Central Asia, horses were the animals of choicewere the animals of choice

Pictures: Mongol horsemen past (above) Pictures: Mongol horsemen past (above) and present (below) and present (below)

Mongol EmpireMongol Empire The Mongols started off as The Mongols started off as

several warring tribal societies several warring tribal societies How a group of unpromising How a group of unpromising

tribes could merge into an tribes could merge into an empire is an highly relevant empire is an highly relevant topictopic

They began as five tribes: the They began as five tribes: the Naimans, Tatars, Uighurs, Naimans, Tatars, Uighurs, Merkits, and Mongols in 1206 Merkits, and Mongols in 1206 (upper left, in red)(upper left, in red)

At the end, they developed into At the end, they developed into the largest empire in the world, the largest empire in the world, past and present (lower left; past and present (lower left; depicted in dark gray, 1237)depicted in dark gray, 1237)

Genghis Kahn, a.k.a. TemüjinGenghis Kahn, a.k.a. Temüjin Genghis Kahn (given name Temüjin) was no Genghis Kahn (given name Temüjin) was no

doubt a ruthless warriordoubt a ruthless warrior Yet under him, war was a last (though brutal) Yet under him, war was a last (though brutal)

resortresort He started small; subduing four rival tribesHe started small; subduing four rival tribes After defeating his rivals his expansion was After defeating his rivals his expansion was

predicated on trade and public securitypredicated on trade and public security His aim: to pacify each region to make safe His aim: to pacify each region to make safe

for trade and travel for trade and travel One incident: he sent emissaries to One incident: he sent emissaries to

Samarkand in a bid to establish trade Samarkand in a bid to establish trade relations with the Shah of the Khwarezmid relations with the Shah of the Khwarezmid EmpireEmpire

The emissaries were murdered, provoking a The emissaries were murdered, provoking a war that led to the slaughter of the entire war that led to the slaughter of the entire empire of the shahempire of the shah

Genghis Kahn: Military StrategistGenghis Kahn: Military Strategist

He combined the speed and mobility of a He combined the speed and mobility of a cavalry on the plaincavalry on the plain

With adoption of siege strategy and technology With adoption of siege strategy and technology (catapults, rockets) to subdue all fortified cities(catapults, rockets) to subdue all fortified cities

His soldier traveled light and were highly His soldier traveled light and were highly disciplined, with death for negligencedisciplined, with death for negligence

They were expert archers and lancersThey were expert archers and lancers They traveled light, relying less on supply linesThey traveled light, relying less on supply lines Their rapid mobility compensated for lack of Their rapid mobility compensated for lack of

armorarmor Military academies, including West Point, still Military academies, including West Point, still

emulate many of his strategies.emulate many of his strategies.

Genghis Kahn: AdministratorGenghis Kahn: Administrator Popular conception ignores his effectiveness as an Popular conception ignores his effectiveness as an

administratoradministrator Devised a code called Devised a code called yassayassa Key canon: nobility shared the same hardships as Key canon: nobility shared the same hardships as

the common manthe common man Promotion was based strictly on meritPromotion was based strictly on merit Theft was strictly forbidden; could be punishable by Theft was strictly forbidden; could be punishable by

deathdeath The empire was safe to travel, a point Europeans The empire was safe to travel, a point Europeans

commented oncommented on Religious tolerance was decreed, and Muslims, Religious tolerance was decreed, and Muslims,

Buddhists, and Christians maintained their beliefs in Buddhists, and Christians maintained their beliefs in the empirethe empire

Created trade route and a postal system; the U.S. Created trade route and a postal system; the U.S. Pony Express was an imitation of the Mongol system.Pony Express was an imitation of the Mongol system.

Legacy of Genghis KahnLegacy of Genghis Kahn

After his death in 1227, the empire After his death in 1227, the empire continued to expand to stretch from continued to expand to stretch from Europe to ChinaEurope to China

The Silk Road, established in 1168, The Silk Road, established in 1168, continued to flourishcontinued to flourish

Europeans continued to use the roads Europeans continued to use the roads for trade; Marco Polo was the best for trade; Marco Polo was the best known of these known of these

The The yam yam was the most efficient postal was the most efficient postal system worldwide system worldwide

Contemporary Central Asian Contemporary Central Asian CulturesCultures

Changes occurred under the Russian Changes occurred under the Russian and Soviet empiresand Soviet empires

The Kirghiz are a tribal people The Kirghiz are a tribal people ranging across the Pamir Mountainsranging across the Pamir Mountains

The Johnson-Earle book focuses of The Johnson-Earle book focuses of those in Afghanistanthose in Afghanistan

Border closings with Russia and China Border closings with Russia and China have forced them to intensively have forced them to intensively exploit their pasture landsexploit their pasture lands

Kirghiz Cultural PatternsKirghiz Cultural Patterns They migrate seasonally, to They migrate seasonally, to

higher pastures in summer, higher pastures in summer, lower in winter (upper photo)lower in winter (upper photo)

Animals include sheep and Animals include sheep and goatsgoats

Animals also include Bactrian Animals also include Bactrian (double-humped) camels, yak (double-humped) camels, yak (cold country oxen), horses(cold country oxen), horses

Like all nomadic peoples, they Like all nomadic peoples, they live in felt yurts (lower photo)live in felt yurts (lower photo)

In recent years, higher demand In recent years, higher demand for animal products and land for animal products and land scarcity has induced scarcity has induced stratificationstratification

Ecological AnalysisEcological Analysis

Sheep and goats are herded together Sheep and goats are herded together as “companion animals”as “companion animals”

Sheep graze (eat low-growing plants Sheep graze (eat low-growing plants such as grass)such as grass)

Goats browse (eat high-growing Goats browse (eat high-growing plants such as brush)plants such as brush)

Yaks are oxen whose two layers of Yaks are oxen whose two layers of hair covering matted hair protect hair covering matted hair protect them from the cold them from the cold

Social OrganizationSocial Organization The basic unit is a The basic unit is a

household averaging 3.5 household averaging 3.5 personspersons

Eighty per cent are nuclear Eighty per cent are nuclear families; families;

Remainder are extended or Remainder are extended or polygynous families. polygynous families.

Traditionally, the yurt (felt Traditionally, the yurt (felt tent) houses the familytent) houses the family

More recently, stone houses More recently, stone houses have taken their placehave taken their place

Kirghiz Socioeconomic RelationsKirghiz Socioeconomic Relations

AmanatAmanat system: a wealthy sheep owner system: a wealthy sheep owner lends his sheep to individuals for their use lends his sheep to individuals for their use of wool, milk, and dungof wool, milk, and dung

In return, the borrower repays the owner In return, the borrower repays the owner with lambs the sheep has borne, adding to with lambs the sheep has borne, adding to the owner’s herdsthe owner’s herds

Sheep were then sold in KabulSheep were then sold in Kabul Result: the formation of chiefdoms, Result: the formation of chiefdoms,

embodied in the khanembodied in the khan Two-thirds of the households studied have Two-thirds of the households studied have

few or no herd animals. few or no herd animals.

Post-Soviet TransitionPost-Soviet Transition The Soviet invasion forced the Kirghiz to The Soviet invasion forced the Kirghiz to

migrate to Pakistan and elsewheremigrate to Pakistan and elsewhere They lost their markets in Kabul and felt They lost their markets in Kabul and felt

threatened by the Soviets, forcing the threatened by the Soviets, forcing the movemove

In 1981, Kirghiz leader Haji Rahman Gul In 1981, Kirghiz leader Haji Rahman Gul led a group into Pakistanled a group into Pakistan

Because of tropical climate, group lost its Because of tropical climate, group lost its animals and more than 100 diedanimals and more than 100 died

Eventually, in the group found refuge in Eventually, in the group found refuge in Turkey, whose climate and culture allowed Turkey, whose climate and culture allowed them to develop their herding againthem to develop their herding again

ConclusionConclusion The cultures of the Steppes were predominantly The cultures of the Steppes were predominantly

herdersherders However, nomadic cultures could become However, nomadic cultures could become

complex statescomplex states The mobility of Genghis Khan’s Mongol prove an The mobility of Genghis Khan’s Mongol prove an

advantage in military conquestadvantage in military conquest Trade provided an incentive for developing a Trade provided an incentive for developing a

statestate The Kirghiz replicated the pattern of state The Kirghiz replicated the pattern of state

formation through stratificationformation through stratification As land and animals became scarce, the kahn As land and animals became scarce, the kahn

(chief) grew wealthy through (chief) grew wealthy through amanatamanat