russia and the republics transcaucasia and central asia

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Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

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Page 1: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Russia and the Republics

Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Page 2: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Transcaucasia

• Gateway of Migration• Bridges Europe and Asia• Trades routes =

thriving commerce• Various people &

cultures• “Mountain of Language”

Jabal Al-Alsun

• Religions -Predominantly

Christian and Islamic

b/c close proximity to Middle East

King Tiridates III converted to Christianity in 300AD (WRE)

Page 3: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia
Page 4: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Transcaucasia

• Czarist and Soviet Rule• 1700s, czar’s army made progress in

Trancaucasia• 1723, Peter the Great’s army captures Azerbaijan• 1801, Russia annexed Georgia• 1828, took control of Armenia• 1870s, the czar’s army added the area to Russia

• 1920s, Red Army took control of the region• Transcaucasia experienced same painful econ. &

pol. changes as rest of U.S.S.R.• Regained autonomy after 1991

Page 5: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Transcaucasia Economic Potential

• Agriculture and Industry• Have taken advantage of climate & limited land for

farming• Industry built by Soviets transformed urban regions

• Iron, steel, chemicals and OIL• republics are highly sought after for oil and pipelines

• “Land of Flames”

• Dividing the Caspian Sea• If it is a sea, then each country has rights to the

resources on the sea bed. (Azerbaijan)• If it is a lake, then each country must share the

wealth equally. (Russia)

Page 6: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Transcaucasia

• Complex and Troubled land• North = republics part of

Russia – Chechnya,

Dagestan, Ingushetia &

North Ossetia• South = Georgia, Armenia &

Azerbaijan

• Size of California• Inhabitants speak dozens of languages• Approximately 50 distinct ethnic groups• Various religions – Christianity and Islam are

dominant

Page 7: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Transcaucasia

• Conflict• Rigid Soviet control held tensions

in check – “We’re floating in a zone

of half-lawlessness, half-law . . .

We destroyed the old system but

replaced it with nothing. There is a

vacuum.” – Former Soviet citizen• 1991, Civil War broke out between

Armenia and Azerbaijan over

Nagorno-Karabakh

(mountainous area)• Azerbaijan = history proves it belongs to them• Armenia = ¾ of population in ethnic Armenian

• Colin Powell met with leaders in 2001 to settle the issue• As of 2012, it belongs to Azerbaijan

Page 8: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Transcaucasia

• Chechnya• Fought against foreign rule continually since 15th century

• Converted to Sunni Islam to gain entry into Ottoman Empire• 16th century, Chechnya declared part of Russia• 18th century, Chechens begin revolting• 1813, Russia formerly gains control after Russo-Persian War

• Under Soviets• Chechens would rebel when Russian state was in flux (1905,

1917, 1930s, 1940s, 1990s)

• 1991, Chechen Pres. Dzhokhar Dudayev rallied for recognition of an independent nation• Boris Yeltsin said NO b/c it was never independent like the

other republics were

Page 9: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Transcaucasia

• Chechnya Cont’d• First Chechen War (1994-1996)

• Despite superior weapons, Russians

had to seek ceasefire• Successful in capturing Grozny

• Unsuccessful in the mountains

• Russian people did not like the war

• Inter-War Years• Kidnappings and Islamic militants

alarmed officials

Page 10: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia
Page 11: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia
Page 12: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia
Page 13: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia
Page 14: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Central asia

• 5 Independent republics:• Kazakhstan• Kyrgyzstan• Tajikistan• Turkmenistan• Uzbekistan

• Silk road

Page 15: Russia and the Republics Transcaucasia and Central Asia

Central asia

• “The Great Game”• Coined by Arthur Connoly in 19th century• Russia and GB disguised officers to map region and get to

know local leaders• Russians won and Soviets took control until 1991

• Nuclear Testing (Semey, Kazakhstan)• Between 1949 and 1989, Soviets exploded 470 devices• Testing caused widespread health problems

• Petroleum and Prosperity• Oil fields of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan = new “Great

Game”• Problems of the region??