History of the geographic exploration of Central Asia
The study of Central Asia’s nature began in ancient times because the region lay on the Great Silk Road joining East and West. In the first stage (from the 2nd century BC to the 16th century AD) Chinese travellers, Arab scholars and local thinkers described the region’s nature. The Chinese envoy Zhang Qian explored the Fergana, Khorezm and Issyk-Kul areas in 138–126 BC, and Xuanzang travelled through the Tien Shan, Tashkent and Samarkand lands in 629–645. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (9th century) wrote “The Image of the Earth” and laid the base of the region’s geography; Abu Rayhan Beruni left valuable notes on rocks, minerals and economy, Mahmud Kashgari recorded place names, and Babur described the nature of the Fergana Valley in the Baburnama. In the 19th century expeditions (for example by Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, Fedchenko and Mushketov) mapped the Tien Shan, Pamir-Alay and Zarafshan mountains; in the 20th century geology, climate, waters and soils were studied carefully. Since independence research has focused on protecting water resources and the environment.
“Time line”: draw a time line (2nd century BC to the 21st century) on the wall or a big sheet. Each student picks one scholar or traveller and sticks the name and achievement on the line.