We’ve been blogging away, composing endless posts about this enchanting, little-visited land understood as central Asia. however what is central Asia? Where the hell are the Goats? I believe it’s about time that we fill our visitors in on the area as well as why we’ve decided to travel here.
What Is central Asia?:
Central Asia comprises of six countries: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan as well as Uzbekistan.
Present Day central Asia
A short History:
A great method to get a feel for a region is to understand a bit bit about what occurred long ago. I understand you’re not right here for a history lesson so I’ll make this quick.
330 B.C: Alexander the excellent left Macedonia as well as conquered much of central Asia as well as a few of the Hindu Kush in India.
350 B.C – (arguably) present Day: The excellent Silk road is born from the question as well as legends of Alexander’s conquests as well as slowly a network of trading routes begin to criss-cross with central Asia, stretching from Turkey as well as Western Russia all the method to China. There was never ONE silk road, however many different routes as well as trading posts which ran with all the central Oriental Countries, also the middle east as well as parts Of Europe. China quite much ran the show sending Silk, Paper, porcelain as well as medicinal herbs to the west, while the orient got horses, gold, silver as well as ivory coming the other way.
The Silk road path In ancient central AsiaThe Silk road is perhaps most notable for being the worlds very first intercontinental info highway as religion, astronomy as well as mathematics travelled the roads with more historical significance than any type of material product.
680 B.C: Islam takes over Buddhism in the region just a few years after the Prophet Mohammed’s death.
1218 B.C: A governor in present day Kazakhstan kills one of Chingis (Genghis) Khan’s messengers sent from Mongolia as well as this pisses off the biggest conqueror of all time. He sweeps his armies with the entire region. nobody can match his archers’ skills as his armies battle their method all the method to the Ukraine. By the time of Chingis’s death in 1227 he has one of the largest empires in history.
Statue commemorating Chingis Khan Near Ulan Bator In Mongolia1271-98: Marco Polo as well as his household travel across central Asia as well as Marco composes one of histories excellent travel epics: “The travels Of Marco Polo”.
The 1800’s: The Russian’s come as well as quickly (and cheaply) take over all of central Asia. They bring with them a new gown code as well as the attempted abolishment of Islam in the region (it didn’t work).
The 1900’s: Russian policies, like required collectivization as well as continuous political repression cripple the region’s economic climate as well as moral. Resentment for Russian rule fuels numerous uprisings as well as ultimately triggers a transformation as well as civil war.
1991: All soviet republics of central Asia insurance claim self-reliance from Russia. As they iron curtain rises from the lands, not all is positive. Subsidies stop coming from St.Petersburg as well as many of the central Oriental nations autumn into an economic crisis.
Central Asia Today:
Much of central Asia’s population speaks Russian as a unifying language. In northern Kazakhstan as well as many central Oriental cities there is a big population of ethnic Eurasian Russians. However, Russia’s liberal fashion sense as well as honest behaviour is only left in little pockets, with much of the region returning to its conventional Islamic past.
The influence of Chingis Kahn likewise continues to resonate in the region, with each central Oriental republic declaring that he was a direct descendant of their ancestors. even today, tracing one’s bloodline back to the conqueror is a source of excellent pride.
Islam is a big part of life for many central Asians, though outside of Afghanistan there are extremely few extremest as well as many muslims even drink alcohol as well as wear shorts! There are mosques in every village as well as town as well as many make the pilgrimage to mecca (haj).
Why Did We choose to find Here?
Central Asia is spoken of in hushed tones amongst adventurous backpackers. This great, unknown area on the map has been calling to us ever since we very first heard stories of its question as well as cultural diversity. perhaps one of the few locations on our world yet to be “discovered” by mass tourism, central Asia has all of the primary tourist draws without the throngs of visitors.
The region boasts stunning mountain scenery, immense steppe, dazzling alpine lakes, bewildering architecture, lovely beaches, excellent fishing, unbelievably hospitable people, a dying nomadic way of life as well as a few of the world’s most scenic drives. all of this enjoyment moves to the slow, welcoming tune of the Imam’s contact us to prayer that can be heard in any type of of these Islamic nations.
We are in central Asia, a vast as well as astonishing location with something new to discover around every corner. We’ve slept with regional households in their yurts, we’ve hiked over mountain passes on foot as well as trekked on horseback, we’ve dined in 5 star restaurants as well as gnawed on gristly mutton fresh from the terminate pit. We’ve slept in lovely hotel spaces as well as camped under the stars. We’ve discovered about Islamic culture as well as about regional traditions that vary between each neighbouring country. We’ve had our eyes opened as wide as they’ve ever stretched at the hands of world travel, as well as we’ve only just begun. We’ve barely dipped our toes in the vast pool that is central Asia as well as we can honestly say… we like it.
Did you already understand about central Asia? have you been right here or hope to visit? let us understand below!
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