Central Asia & the Caucasus Region: Religion & Culture

Central Asia & the Caucasus Region: Culture & Conflict

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We will...

identify and describe examples of human rights abuses by governments such as the oppression of religious and ethnic groups in Central Asia and the Caucasus region.

​I can...

​describe an example of an ethnic conflict in Central Asia and the Caucasus region.

People of The Caucasus

• There are approximately 53 ethnic groups in the Caucasus region.

• 3 largest ethnic groups are the Armenians, Azeris, and Georgian 

• Half the regions people are urban and half are rural

• Armenia has the largest urban population

Caucasus: Religion

• Most Armenians and Georgians are Christians 

• Most Azerbaijanis are Muslims (95%) 

• As a result of Islamic practices (Muslim) women lost many rights when the republics gained independence from the Soviet

Multiple Choice

Which country has the largest urban population?

• Georgia

• Armenia

• Tazakhstan

• India

Multiple Choice

Most Azerbaijanis are Muslims.

• True

• False

Ethnic Conflicts:

●Competing religious groups in the region have been a source of conflict 

●Armenians are homogenous compared to the rest of the Caucasus

●The Turks and Azeris who border Armenia have historically been their enemies; in 1890 and WWI Turks massacred millions of Armenians 

Multiple Choice

A ______________ society is one in which all its individuals share both the same racial ethnicity, same language and a series of beliefs.

• nomad

• yurt

• homogeneous

Multiple Choice

What has been a source of conflict in the region?

• infrastructure projects

• competing religious groups

• economic growth

Central Asia: People

• ●Kazakhstan is the only country in Central Asia with a largely urban population;( ⅔ ) of the people are ethnic Kazakhs & 25% Russians (Rural Kazahks live in yurts)

• ●Central Asia’s largest city is Tashkent in Uzbekistan and is the economic and cultural center of the region 

• ●Due to migration across the region it is ethically complex

Fill in the Blanks

Central Asia: Religion

• In Kazakhstan  half the people are Muslim and half Christian

• In the rest of Central Asia between 75% and 90% are Muslim and the rest are mostly Christian

• Russian is widely spoken; in Kazakhstan Russian is an official language 

Multiple Choice

In Kazakhstan Russian is an official language.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which factor accounts for the language patterns evident in Central Asia?

• Diffusion along historic trade routes

• Former Russian control of the region

• Introduction of Internet technologies

• Adoption of Islam as the official religion

Multiple Choice

In Kazakhstan half the people are Muslim and half _____________.

• Buddhist

• Christian

• Explorers

• European

Central Asia: Ethnic Conflict

●Tajikistan was torn by civil war after Soviet rule ended Tajik Communist fought Islamic groups; 10,000 were killed and 500,000 were forced to flee

●Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, & Kazakhstan can’t agree on how to share the surface and seabed of the Caspian Sea which is rich with natural resources 

Multiple Choice

• Kazakhstan

• Uzbekistan

• Turkmenistan

• Russia

Multiple Choice

• Kazakhstan

• Georgia

• Russia

• Uzbekistan

Multiple Choice

Uzbekistan has the largest population of the Central Asian countries

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Silk Road was an important part of Central Asia's history

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: post-Soviet countries have thriving economies today.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which cultural attraction would you most likely visit on a tour of Central Asia?

• cathedral

• mosque

• ice hockey arena

• mountain lodge