Lessons 3–4 · 2 lessons · P. Gulomov, H. Vahobov, P. Baratov, M. Mamatqulov. Geography (Physical Geography of Central Asia; Physical Geography of Uzbekistan), Grade 7. Revised and expanded 5th edition. “O‘qituvchi” Publishing House, Tashkent, 2017
4
The population and political map of Central Asia
Textbook: p. 11
GoalKnow the population and political map of Central Asia, today’s states and their capitals.
New words
political map · siyosiy xaritapopulation density · aholi zichligioases · vohalarcapital city · poytaxt
Explanation
Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Turkmens, Karakalpaks and many other peoples live in Central Asia; the region’s population is now about 80 million. Because deserts and semi-deserts are vast, people are gathered mainly along rivers, in oases and in piedmont valleys, so population density is uneven. A political map shows state borders and changes with historical events. In the mid-19th century the region had the Kokand and Khiva khanates and the Bukhara emirate; later the lands became part of the Russian Empire, after 1917 new formations appeared, and in 1924–1936 union republics were created. Since 1991 there have been independent states: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Their capitals are Tashkent, Astana, Bishkek, Dushanbe and Ashgabat.
Worked examples
Uzbekistan’s neighbours: Kazakhstan in the north and north-west, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the east, Afghanistan in the south and Turkmenistan in the south-west.
Ancient cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva arose by rivers on flat land because water and irrigable land were available.
Class activity
“Capital pairs”: on some cards write a state, on others its capital. The class matches the shuffled cards and then shows the places on the map.
Practice
1
Name the five independent states of Central Asia and their capitals.
Uzbekistan — Tashkent, Kazakhstan — Astana, Kyrgyzstan — Bishkek, Tajikistan — Dushanbe, Turkmenistan — Ashgabat.
2
Why does most of the population live in oases and along rivers?
Because deserts have no water and irrigated farming is possible only where there is water.
3
Which three states existed in the region in the mid-19th century?
The Kokand Khanate, the Khiva Khanate and the Bukhara Emirate.
4
Why does a political map change with time? Give an example from the region.
States appear, merge or change borders; for example in 1991 independent states were formed in place of union republics.