© T. M. Whitmore

Today

•Central AsiaPhysical environmentPopulation & settlementCultureGeopolitical issues

© T. M. Whitmore

Last Time

•Historical development of Russia (and neighbors) geo-politically and industriallyHistorical development of Russian Empire

USSR (1921 - 1989) Industrial development & its geography

© T. M. Whitmore

Central Asia: Defined•Once home to the powerful Mongol empire•Now site of emerging - little known states

The “stans”KazakhstanUzbekistanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanAfghanistan

AzerbaijanMongoliaWestern and Northern provinces of

China

© T. M. Whitmore

Central Asia: Physical Environment

•Importance of aridity and semi-aridity

•Continentality

•Tectonic landscape

•Mountain zones

•Deserts

•Basin and plains – steppes

© T. M. Whitmore

© T. M. Whitmore

Mountain Zones

© T. M. Whitmore

Desert Zones

© T. M. Whitmore

Central Asia: Population, settlement,

culture•Vast area more-or-less empty

•Strongly circumscribed settlement

•Ethnic/cultural/linguistic diversity

•Religious diversity

GPW Adjusted Population Density 2000 (SEDAC)

© T. M. Whitmore

© T. M. Whitmore

© T. M. Whitmore

Central Asia: Geopolitical issues

•History of political domination from Russia/USSR

•History of political domination from China

•Ethnic tensions

•Afghanistan

•Current issues

© T. M. Whitmore

© T. M. Whitmore

© T. M. Whitmore

Central Asia

© T. M. Whitmore

© T. M. Whitmore

Central Asia: Contemporary development

•All states very poor

•Breakup of USSR => economic collapse of ‘Stans

•Afghanistan in chaos