The Caucasus and Central Asia

The Caucasus

Made up of small independent countries and Russian dependent states. Independent: Georgia, Armenia, & Azerbaijan Russian Dependents: Chechnya, Dagestan & Ossetia (North & South) All formerly part of the U.S.S.R. Culturally diverse with over 50 ethnic groups Caucasus Mountains are major landform/feature All are still dominated by Russia Long and rich history Frequent conflicts Great diversity in language, religion & politics

Central Asia

Made up of 5 independent countries. Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan All formerly part of the U.S.S.R. Dominated by Russia Historically tied to nomadic peoples & the Silk Road, (once important trade routes). A crossroad for the movement of people, goods, & ideas between Europe, South Asia, & East Asia. Most common religion is Islam Majority of languages are from the Turkic family