Ethnicity Religion

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

Fill in the Blanks

There are approximately

ethnic groups in the Caucasus region.

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

Due to migration across the region it is

complex.

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