1. Independent Republics Chapter 21 Section 2

2. Former USSR 1991 Collapse of USSR New countries formed Combined Pop. 145 million Ethnic Minorities: cultural subgroups outnumbered by the dominant culture Ex. Kazakstan – 42% Kazak – 37% Russian – Clashes cause violence

3. Baltic States Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia Baltic Sea 7.7 million Closer to Europe 1 st republics to seek independence in late 1980’s Advanced economy

4. European Border Nations Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova Ukraine – 1 st Russian state began here 1,000 years ago – Once breadbasket of USSR – 1/5 of all food in NE – “black earth” – Chernobyl accident

5. European Border Nations Belarus – 10 million – Slavic – 1/5 of farmland contaminated by Chernobyl – Industry – Oil reserves – Potash deposits (fertilizer)

6. European Border Nations Moldova – Landlocked between Ukraine and Romania – Densely populated – 4 million – Mostly Romanian – Wine, sugar beets, seed oils

7. Caucasus Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan Ethnic diversity Georgia – Mountainous – Tourism – Wine, tobacco, silk, tea, peaches, citrus – 5.4 million

8. Caucasus Armenia – Landlocked – Smallest – Rocky – Turks attempted to deport 1.75 million in WWI 1/3 died Genocide: intentional destruction of a people

9. Caucasus Azerbaijan – Petroleum deposits – Rural – 83% Azerbaijan, 17% Armenian – Muslim – Nationalism: desire of a cultural group to rule themselves – Conflict

10. Central Asia Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan Combined ½ size of U.S. Little rainfall 1/6 Muslim Turkic languages

11. Ethnicity Each country named after Turkic group Home to mix of people – Uzbeks are 23% of pop. in Tajikistan Nomadic herders – Yurts: large portable tents with wooden frames and covered in felt or skin – Soviets forced herders to settle in villages and farm – ½ now live in cities

12. Aral Sea Fed by freshwater rivers Water diverted to irrigate Devastated the region Sea shrank and grew saltier Lost 2/3 of volume! Fishing industry died Desertification of area Once World’s 4 th largest lake