The document provides information on the Transcaucasia region which includes Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan located between Europe and Asia. It discusses the various ethnic groups and languages spoken in the region as well as the influence and control of outside powers like Russia throughout history. Modern life in the region includes high literacy rates and important cultural traditions like Georgian dinner parties.

1. Transcaucasia
Chapter 16, Section 2

2. Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

3. Gateway between Europe and Asia
Georgia,
Armenia,
Azerbaijan

4. Gateway between Europe and Asia
 Trade routes near
Black Sea led to
Mediterranean
Europe
 Trade routes to far
east from Caspian
Sea
 More than 50
different ethnic
groups
 Variety of languages
 Jabal Al-Alsun =
“Mountain of
Language”

5. Gateway between Europe and Asia
 # of different
religions: Christian
and Islamic most
common
 Close to the religions’
origins
 Christianity =
Jerusalem
 Islam = Mecca

6. History of Outside Control
 Russians invaded in 18th century
 1723 – captured Baku, Azerbaijan
 1801 – annexed Georgia
 1828 – took control of large stretch of Armenia

7. History of Outside Control
 Briefly independent from 1917 – 1920s when
they were recaptured by the Red Army
 Regained freedom in 1991

8. Modern Life
During communist rule, literacy rates rose
to 99%
Still have high quality education
Georgian supra (dinner party) is an
important tradition
Large quantities of food
Use fresh locally grown food
Make many toasts throughout the evening

9. Central Asia
Chapter 16, Section 3

10.  5 republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

12. Historical Crossroads
 Travelers called the Silk Road after the silk they bought
in China
 Also used for spreading ideas, technology, and religion
 Traffic slowed in the 14th century giving way to less
expensive sea routes

13. The Great Game
Great Britain and the Russian Empire
began to struggle for control of Central
Asia
Russia was moving south and GB wanted
to stop them before they reached India
Both sides recruited young officers who
journeyed through the region in disguise
to create maps and win over local people
Russian Empire gained control by the end
of the 19th century

14. Nuclear Testing
Between 1949 and 1989 scientists
exploded 470 nuclear devices
Underground explosions cracked walls in
towns 50 miles away

15. Nuclear Testing
 Nuclear fall out stretched for 180,000 square miles
 Exposure caused a dramatic rise in the rates of
leukemia, thyroid cancer, birth defects, and mental
illness

16. Petroleum
Hoping oil industry will bring wealth to
Central Asia
New “Great Game” as countries try to
compete for profits
Leaders need to establish a stable political
and legal institution for their people to
benefit

17. Cultures Divided and Conquered
Before the Russian Revolution, ethnic
groups were separated
Soviets purposely split up the ethnic groups
Used tension between groups to prevent
opposition
Most groups are tied together through
religion: Islam
Many speak languages related to Turkish or
they speak Russian

18. Survival of Tradition
Nomads live in the grassland of Central
Asia
Move from place to place in search of
food, water, and grazing
Forced to collective farms during Soviet
rule

19.  Have few possessions and usually carry what is
most useful
 Known for their beautiful hand-woven carpets
Yurt 