Countries of Central Asia. Countries of Central Asia and their brief characteristics

Central and East Asia are vast spaces, occupying one-fourth of the Eurasian continent (12 million km 2). The Mongolian People's Republic is located here (about 2.3 million).

People), the People's Republic of China (more than 1200 million people), Korea (two states - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea - about 68 million people in total), as well as Japan (more than 125 million people).

Most of the territory of this part of Eurasia is occupied by mountain systems. Only in the coastal, eastern part are there lowlands, for example, the Great Chinese Plain. There are even fewer plains on the Japanese Islands and the Korean Peninsula. The southwestern part of East Asia is occupied by the largest plateau on Earth - Tibet. Many large rivers originate here, including the two great Chinese rivers - the Yellow River and the Yangtze. In the western part of the region the climate is sharply continental. There is very little precipitation. The Taklamakan (one of the driest in the world) and Gobi deserts are located here. The amount of precipitation increases as you approach the ocean. China's climate is temperate in the northeast and becomes subtropical and tropical in the south.

Central and Eastern Asia have been inhabited by people for a very long time. In the Zhoukoudian cave (not far from Beijing) the skeletal remains of a primitive man - Sinanthropus (close in bone structure to the Javan Pithecanthropus), who lived here about 400 thousand years ago, were found. At the turn of the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. e. The first state in this part of Asia arose in the Yellow River basin. In 221 BC. e. The ruler of China assumed the title of emperor. In the history of the Chinese Empire, there was a constant struggle with the northern nomads (including the Huns), and civil strife broke out, weakening the state. In the first centuries of our era, a strong state emerged in the northern steppe belt of East and Central Asia - the Turkic Khaganate, which existed until the 7th century. n. e. The Turks were replaced by the Khitans, later (in the 13th century) the Mongols conquered China, and in the 17th century.

Manchus. In the XIX-XX centuries. China was subject to expansion by Western European states and Japan. All these events affected the political and cultural development of not only China and the Chinese, but also other states and peoples of Central and East Asia.

Anthropologically, almost the entire population of Central and East Asia belongs to various branches of the great Mongoloid race; only the Uighurs are Caucasian (with a small Mongoloid admixture).

The languages of the peoples inhabiting Central and East Asia form six large language families. The languages of the Altai family are spoken by the Uyghurs (about 7 million people), Kazakhs and Kyrgyz (more about the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz in the chapter dedicated to the peoples of Central Asia and Kazakhstan). The languages of these peoples are included in the Turkic group. The Mongolian language, part of the Mongolian group of languages of the Altai family, is spoken by the Mongols of China (more than 4 million people), the Mongols of the MPR (more than 2.2 million people) and the Oirats. This same family (its Tungus-Manchu branch) also includes the languages of the Manchus (10 million people; however, the vast majority of them now speak Chinese) and the very few peoples settled in the Amur region. Most researchers recognize that the Korean and Japanese languages belong to the Altaic family.

The Sino-Tibetan (i.e. Sino-Tibetan) family is represented by languages belonging to two groups. The Chinese group includes the languages of the Chinese (about 1 billion 200 million people) and the Dungans (more than 8 million people). The Tibeto-Burman group is the Tibetans (about 5 million people) and the Itzu (more than 6 million people).

The Thai family includes the Zhuang language (more than 15 million people). They are the largest people in China, after the Chinese.

Several languages belong to the Austro-Asiatic language family, the most common of which are the languages of the Miao (about 6 million speakers) and Yao (2 million) peoples. Japanese and Korean languages are brought closer to the Altai language family.

The region of Central Asia, before the 1917 revolution was called Turkestan, and in Soviet times - Central Asia, unites 5 southern republics of the former USSR east of the Caspian Sea - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The total area of the region is 4 million square meters. km. The total population is 56 million people. From the north it adjoins Russia, in the south and southeast it borders on Iran, Afghanistan and China. The countries of the region share the following main features:

1. Ethnic and cultural-religious kinship. The indigenous ethnic groups of these countries were formed mainly as a result of the mixing of Turkic and Iranian-speaking tribes, as well as Caucasoid and Mongoloid races. Since in ancient times and in the Middle Ages Central Asia was the arena of conquests of more powerful powers and peoples (starting with the ancient Persian kingdom, Alexander the Great and the Huns and ending with the Arabs, Mongols and Seljuk Turks), as well as one of the main routes of the Great Migration of Peoples, on The formation of its modern ethnic groups was layered with a complex mixture of different influences.

All of them are united by the Muslim religion (Islam), brought to the region by the Arabs, and the titular nations of all 5 republics profess Sunni Islam. The Arabs had a decisive influence on the initial stage of the formation of the culture and writing of these peoples. These factors had a decisive impact on their further cultural and historical development, the formation of national traditions and way of life.

At the same time, such a commonality does not eliminate tribal and interethnic discord, the echoes of which persist to this day (the most strained relations exist between the Uzbeks and the Kyrgyz).

2. Multi-ethnicity of the countries of the region. The national-territorial demarcation carried out after the revolution in the 1920s was largely conditional, and although the titular nations, as a rule, make up the majority of the population in their republics, almost each of them is home to large (sometimes 1–2 million in number) and compact diaspora of neighboring peoples. And this factor in some places further complicates interethnic relations.

3. The countries of this region have traditionally been the most backward in socio-economic development among the national outskirts of the former Russian Empire and then the USSR. Before the revolution, Russian influence in general was very weak, expressed only in the presence of Russian troops and in the imperial administration - and even then the latter was established only in the part of the region directly included in the empire (Turkestan General Government), while in the Khanate of Khiva and the Emirate of Bukhara , whose rulers recognized themselves as vassals of the Russian emperor, autonomous local government was preserved. As for cultural development, despite the ancient culture of individual peoples (Uzbeks, Tajiks), it was the property of a very narrow upper layer: in terms of the general level of literacy, the peoples of Turkestan occupied the last places in the empire, only the small nations of the Far North stood below them.

During Soviet times, the influence of the metropolis increased significantly, expressed primarily in the acceleration of economic development. The foundations of industry were laid and railway transport networks were laid. However, despite large investments, the region remained predominantly subsidized; the standard of living in it was artificially “tightened up” due to constant injections from the Union budget.

And although industrial development led to a strong influx of Russian population (who settled, as a rule, in cities), and the Russian language became compulsory to study, at their core, Russians remained an alien element. Having had a powerful influence on the industrial development of Central Asia, eliminating illiteracy and creating a network of educational institutions (including higher education), they little changed the cultural and social traditions of its peoples. Although the most barbaric remnants of antiquity disappeared and a certain Europeanization of everyday relations took place, all this was very superficial: the deep roots of the national way of life and psychology were preserved everywhere. Ethnic assimilation of Russians with the indigenous population through mixed marriages was quite insignificant. All this, in turn, predetermined the unenviable fate of Russians during and after the collapse of the Soviet Union and to a massive wave of migrations and refugees to their historical homeland.

Economic backwardness led all Central Asian countries to a difficult situation after the collapse of the USSR. Deprived of the usual Union subsidies, they were forced to look for ways out of the crisis on their own. And until now, the rural population in them predominates over the urban population, there are few large cities, with a population of more than a million - only 2: Tashkent and Alma-Ata. The semi-desert landscape and arid climate require high costs for irrigating fields.

As for social relations, clan and tribal traditions and elements of the patriarchal way of life are still preserved in the countries of the region, especially in rural villages (in particular, the degraded position of women). And although all 5 republics are secular states and consistently fight Islamic fundamentalism, national traditions remain in force.

4. Unlike most republics of the former USSR, which are gripped by a demographic crisis, the countries of Central Asia retain the traditional high birth rate for Muslim countries, and population growth in them not only continues, but also occurs at a high rate, despite economic difficulties (the only exception is Kazakhstan, where the general depopulation is explained by the high percentage of the Russian population, which predominated in the republic during the Soviet era).

5. Authoritarian political regimes were established in all Central Asian states after the collapse of the USSR. With them, only the decoration of political opposition is allowed; the real opposition is either subject to discrimination or direct repression (as in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan). Despite all the differences in the economic policies of these regimes (from liberal market reforms in Kyrgyzstan to maintaining state control over large enterprises in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, right down to fixed prices in Turkmenistan), their political systems are united by the unambiguous predominance of executive power, infringement (up to complete suppression) of democratic freedoms and the virtual absence of alternative elections. In its most classic form, this is manifested in Turkmenistan, where a typical totalitarian regime has established itself, modeled on the Stalin-era USSR or modern North Korea.

All this is explained by the same backwardness and complete lack of traditions of democracy, characteristic of most Muslim countries. This feature predetermined the distancing of the Central Asian republics from the Western world, especially after the events of the “Orange Revolution” in Kyrgyzstan in 2005, caused by the pro-Western course of its then president A. Akayev. On the other hand, the secular nature of the regimes established in them also determined their distancing from pan-Islamic states and hostility to Islamic extremism. In foreign policy, they maneuver between Russia, the United States, the Islamic world and China.

Regarding natural conditions, we can add that, in addition to the hot semi-desert climate common to the countries of the region, most of it is located in a seismically dangerous zone and is often subject to earthquakes. The most powerful of them were recorded in 1948 in Ashgabat and in 1966 in Tashkent, which destroyed these cities almost to the ground.

Kazakhstan

Common data. The Republic of Kazakhstan is the largest state in Central Asia by territory on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, bordering Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Area – 2 million 700 thousand square meters. km. Population – 15 million people. The capital is Astana (previously called Akmolinsk and Tselinograd), until 1997 the capital was Alma-Ata (before the revolution it was called Verny). Administrative-territorial division - 14 regions and 3 cities with regional status - Astana, Almaty and Baikonur. The monetary unit is tenge. Political system: presidential republic with a 2-chamber parliament. Since gaining independence in 1991, the permanent president has been Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Essay on history. In ancient times and the Middle Ages, the vast Kazakh steppes served as a zone of constant migration of Turkic and other Asian nomadic pastoralists. In the 13th century they were conquered by Genghis Khan. After the collapse of the Mongol-Tatar possessions in the 16th century. in the central part of present-day Kazakhstan, 3 independent tribal unions have formed, or zhuz led by the descendants of Genghis Khan (Genghisids). At the beginning of the 18th century. The Kazakhs, then (and before the revolution) called Kirghiz-Kaisaks, began to be subjected to destructive raids by the Mongolian Dzungar tribes.

Seeking patronage, in 1731 the Khan of the Younger (Western) Zhuz swore allegiance to the Russian Empire. From the middle of the 18th to the middle of the 19th century. The tribal leaders of the Middle (central) zhuz gradually submitted to Russia, and the Senior (southern) zhuz was divided between Russia and China. After the elimination of the khan's power in the zhuz in the 19th century. The territory of present-day Kazakhstan was partly included in the Orenburg province (partially), the Ural region, the Semipalatinsk and Akmola regions as part of the Steppe Governor-General, and the Semirechensk and Syrdarya regions as part of the Turkestan Governor-General.

During the civil war in Russia, the Kazakh nationalist party Alash Orda supported the white army of Admiral A.V. Kolchak, who occupied part of the northern and eastern regions of modern Kazakhstan; Kolchak promised them moderate national autonomy within Russia. In the south, where the Bolsheviks held their positions (the lands of the Senior Zhuz), they formed the Turkestan Autonomous Republic within the RSFSR. After the establishment of Soviet power on the lands of the former Middle and Junior Zhuzes in 1920, they were included in the Kyrgyz Autonomous Republic. After the national-state demarcation in Central Asia carried out by the Bolsheviks in 1925, the Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was renamed the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; the lands of the Senior Zhuz and part of the Russian districts of southern Siberia were also included in its composition. In 1936, Kazakh autonomy was transformed into an equal union republic within the USSR. A prominent leader of Kazakhstan for a number of years was a close friend of L.I. Brezhnev, member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee D. Kunaev. Kazakhstan gained state independence after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

Ethnic composition of the population. The titular nation of the republic - the Kazakhs (formerly called the Kyrgyz-Kaysaks) belong to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic language family and the Mongoloid race. They profess the Sunni Muslim faith. Even before the revolution, the majority of the population in the cities of this northernmost of the Central Asian countries were Russians. Under Soviet rule, as a result of the arbitrary administrative division of 1925, Stalin's industrial migrations and the transformation of Kazakhstan into a place of exile, Kazakhs became a minority in their own republic - this is the only example among the union republics of the former USSR. By the end of the 50s they made up only 30% of the population there. Subsequently, during return migrations and the growth of their own population, their share increased, but even on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, according to the 1989 population census, the share of Kazakhs did not exceed 40%. Only during the years of independence, due to the mass emigration of Russians, Germans and other non-titular nations, did they become the majority in their own country. However, in the north and east of the country, Kazakhs still remain in the minority.

The Kazakhs still retain remnants of tribal division. Thus, government representatives traditionally come from the leading clans of the Senior (southern) zhuz, including the current president N. Nazarbayev. Outside the country, the largest diasporas of Kazakhs live in Xinjiang (1 million 300 thousand), Uzbekistan (700 thousand), Russia (500 thousand). There are 11 million Kazakhs in the world.

After them, the main ethnic group in Kazakhstan are Russians: according to the 1989 population census, there were over 7 million of them (45%, more than the Kazakhs themselves), according to the 1999 census - over 5 million (more than 1/3). This is largely explained by the arbitrary inclusion into the republic since 1925 of Russian-speaking regions in the north and east - the lands of the Ural, parts of the Siberian and Semirechensky Cossack troops and the adjacent territories. Until now, the descendants of Russian Cossacks live compactly and predominate in East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Semipalatinsk, Guryev, Akmola and other regions.

Of the other ethnic groups, the largest numbers are Uzbeks, Germans (350 thousand each), Tatars (up to 300 thousand), and Uyghurs (over 200 thousand). But if representatives of Asian nationalities have lived here for a long time, then the emergence of a large diaspora of Germans was caused by the forced resettlement in 1941 of the autonomous republic of Volga Germans, liquidated at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, in Soviet times, the number of resettled Germans and their descendants in Kazakhstan reached 1 million. But during the democratic processes of the late 80s and early 90s, 2/3 of them left for Russia or their historical homeland in Germany.

The urban population of Kazakhstan exceeds the rural one, mainly due to the industrialized northern and eastern regions, but during the years of independence it decreased from 60 to 55% due to the emigration of some Russians to their historical homeland. Large cities of Kazakhstan: the former capital Almaty (1 million 300 thousand people), Karaganda (600 thousand), Chimkent (400 thousand), Pavlodar, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semipalatinsk, the current capital Astana and Taraz (formerly Dzhambul, all – from 300 to 350 thousand). In all of these cities, except Shymkent and Taraz, the majority of the population is still Russian. The problem of the Russian-speaking population in Kazakhstan being discriminated against (albeit not in a severe form) remains. I still remember the bloody events of 1986 in Alma-Ata, when Russians were subjected to brutal pogroms by rebellious Kazakh youth national extremists. Among Russian nationalists there are demands for a revision of borders and the return to Russia of areas populated predominantly by Russians.

. In terms of natural resources, Kazakhstan is second only to Russia in the entire CIS. The republic is rich in oil, coal, iron and non-ferrous metals. During Soviet times, a number of powerful mining, metallurgical and machine-building plants were created. The country has 37 coal-fired thermal power plants and 3 large hydroelectric power plants, a nuclear power plant near the city of Aktau (formerly Shevchenko).

Agriculture is dominated by grain-based farming. Since the development of virgin lands in the 50s, Kazakhstan, along with Ukraine, has been the main supplier of grain to the USSR after Russia.

The transport network of railways and roads is the best developed and equipped (again since Soviet times) of all the Central Asian republics.

Overall, Kazakhstan made a relatively solid contribution of 4% to the Soviet Union's GDP. Labor productivity remained at the level of the Union average, although the standard of living was slightly lower.

At the same time, intensive economic, nuclear and space activities (at the Semipalatinsk test site and the Baikonur cosmodrome) during the Soviet period created serious environmental problems: soil erosion after the development of virgin lands, environmental pollution, hopeless drying of the Aral Sea, where the coastline in some places has retreated by 80 km , and in 1998 the sea split into 3 isolated lakes. Today Kazakhstan is not able to cope with these problems on its own.

Essay on modern history(since independence). In Kazakhstan, a moderately authoritarian regime has emerged under the personal power of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first and still permanent president of independent Kazakhstan. The first years, as in Russia, were spent in intense political struggle between the president and parliament, caused by a severe socio-economic crisis, and Nazarbayev needed to change the constitution twice (in 1993 and 1995) to adapt the country's political system to the situation. As a result, as in the State Duma of Russia, the opposition in the Kazakh parliament was in the minority, and the parliament itself was deprived of the opportunity to block the actions of the president. Like B.N. Yeltsin, in cases of conflicts with parliament on fundamental issues, Nazarbayev deftly manipulated referendums. The president controls both the executive and legislative branches and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Over time, the real opposition, led by former Prime Minister A. Kozhageldin, was completely expelled from parliament. It was replaced by a rather decorative opposition, easily susceptible to the president’s manipulations. The media are dominated by censorship and are essentially under state control. In 2000, a special law was adopted on the first president of Kazakhstan, which declared Nazarbayev the lifelong spiritual leader of the people (no mention was made of lifelong presidential power). As in most Central Asian states, tribal ties and traditions have a significant influence on political life and public administration.

In 1997, Nazarbayev moved the capital of the republic from Almaty to the north to Astana, as a result of which, firstly, he freed himself from the influence of his fellow tribesmen from the Elder (southern) zhuz, and secondly, he launched a policy of “rendering” the Russian-German north countries with the goal of gradual assimilation of the non-Kazakh population and the creation of a mono-ethnic state. In elections and at the social and everyday level, non-Kazakh peoples are discriminated against. To justify this, dubious cases like the Ust-Kamenogorsk case of 1999 about Russian nationalist terrorists were used. Although Russian is the native language of the majority of the population, it does not have the status of a second state language, but is only recognized as a language of interethnic communication. It is no coincidence that more than 2 million Russians and over half a million Germans left Kazakhstan. At the same time, Nazarbayev himself does not at all belong to active nationalists: during the December events of 1991, he was the only one of the presidents of the union republics who really tried to help M. Gorbachev preserve the USSR, realizing that if it collapsed, Kazakhstan would face a difficult future. However, after the collapse, he, being a pragmatist, changed course and adopted a focus on the consolidation of the nation - the most realistic way to preserve the unity of the republic. But the mass emigration of non-titular nations, which made up the majority of the country’s population, is a double-edged sword; its result was a general reduction in the population of Kazakhstan. At the same time, in other Central Asian republics, the population is growing rapidly due to the traditionally high birth rate among indigenous peoples, since they constitute the majority there. In the near future, this may turn into a threat to the security of Kazakhstan, since there will be no one to recruit an army of sufficient size.

The economic crisis in Kazakhstan after the collapse of the USSR and during the course of market reforms continued until 1995, when the republic’s GDP fell by almost half compared to 1989. Subsequently, gradual but steady growth began, and has now reached Soviet levels. The severity of the crisis was aggravated by the policy of “shock therapy” adopted by N. Nazarbayev’s government, modeled on Russia and in accordance with the uncritical recommendations of the International Monetary Fund. During the peak years of the crisis, the country had one of the highest rates of hyperinflation in the CIS and a sharp drop in living standards. Privatization followed a similar scenario to the Russian one (now the private sector in the country makes up 60%), which began on a massive scale in 1993 (somewhat later than in Russia) according to a scheme from voucher to auction and cash and with similar results. And corruption, the diversion of capital through various offshore zones and the shadow economy have received the same sad development. It’s a paradox, but at one time the second largest importer of Kazakhstan’s products after Russia was... Bermuda. Due to the large extent of the territory, energy resources are purchased from Russia and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan's external debt, according to various estimates, ranges from 10 to 15 billion dollars.

At the same time, the Nazarbayev government, while maintaining control over the situation, searched for the most effective owners and foreign investors, and this yielded results. Today, Kazakhstan has the highest rates of economic growth in the CIS, amounting to 8–10% annually since 2001. The standard of living of the population has stabilized (although 1/4 of citizens still live below the poverty line), and unemployment has decreased. According to the Human Development Index, Kazakhstan at the turn of the two millennia ranked 79th in the world.

Foreign policy. The main political and trading partner of Kazakhstan on the world stage in almost all positions is Russia. In foreign policy, President Nazarbayev on this issue is demonstrating a course diametrically opposed to his domestic one. In turn, the Russian government, understanding the importance of this partnership in today’s shaky international situation (primarily for strategic reasons), deliberately turns a blind eye to the severity of the “Russian issue” in Kazakhstan, not wanting to spoil relations because of the fate of compatriots (at the same time Among Russian patriots there are strong sentiments for the redistribution of borders and the separation of the ethnically Russian northeastern territories from Kazakhstan). Over the years, an agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance in 1992, an agreement on deepening integration in 1994, a declaration of “eternal friendship and alliance” and an agreement on economic cooperation in 1998 were signed at the highest level. Being a pragmatist, N. Nazarbayev speaks the most active and consistent advocate of deepening economic integration in the CIS among all leaders of the Commonwealth countries. It was he who initiated the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union (EurAsEC), the agreement on the creation of which was signed in 2000 in Astana. The trade turnover between Russia and Kazakhstan amounts to billions of dollars, but the Kazakh government’s attempts to find alternative channels for selling its raw materials and thereby get rid of excessive economic dependence on Russia have not yet been successful.

Military cooperation between them is also quite active. Kazakhstan is a member of the CSTO. Hundreds of Kazakh army officers are trained in Russia. Russia leases the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the center of its military space forces. The nuclear test site in Semipalatinsk is mothballed. The development of the Russian-Kazakh border, the longest in the world with a length of 7.5 thousand km, is being delayed. Until these works are completed, the border serves as a channel for the trade in arms and drugs, and the penetration of various kinds of smugglers and illegal migrants into Russia.

The second most important priority of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy is Western countries led by the United States. The government is actively attracting Western investment in its oil fields, and French entrepreneurs have been particularly successful in this. Foreign trade with the European Union is developing intensively. Kazakhstan participates in the NATO Partnership for Peace program and joint military exercises with NATO. Nazarbayev visited the United States several times. He supported not only their anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan in 2001, but also their aggression in Iraq.

In general, President N. Nazarbayev, an undoubtedly outstanding politician, the most authoritative of the leaders of the Central Asian countries, skillfully maneuvers between Russia and the West, playing on the competition between them and extracting concessions from each.

In the Central Asian region, Kazakhstan claims to be a leader, relying on the largest territory and the largest economic potential in the region. On this path, it competes with Uzbekistan, the traditional “heart” of Central Asia, its centuries-old hegemon. Nazarbayev is one of the creators of the Central Asian Community (CAC), although hopes for its effectiveness have not justified themselves.

The partnership with China is quite active. Kazakhstan is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in which it participates along with Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Kazakhstan is actively involved in trans-Asian transport projects; over the years, railways have been built connecting it with China and (via Turkmenistan) with Iran and Turkey.

Uzbekistan

Common data. The Republic of Uzbekistan is the most populous and “elite” state in Central Asia, bordering all the other 4 states in the region - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as (in a small area) Afghanistan. Area – 449 thousand square meters. km. Population – 25 million people. The capital is Tashkent. Administrative-territorial division - 12 regions and the Karakalpak Autonomous Republic (Tashkent has a special status). Monetary unit – sum. Political system: presidential republic with a 1-chamber parliament. Since gaining independence in 1991, the permanent president has been Islam Karimov.

Essay on history. Uzbekistan is the citadel of Central Asian civilization, dominating the region for many centuries. The Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Bukhara arose in ancient times. The formation of the Uzbek ethnic group based on the mixing of Iranian and later Turkic tribes in the area between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers began after the Great Migration of Peoples and the Arab conquest of the 7th–8th centuries. The Arabs brought the Muslim religion and writing to the peoples of Central Asia. Soon after the expulsion of the Arabs, the state of Khorezm strengthened on the territory of modern Uzbekistan; by the end of the 12th century. subjugating all of Central Asia. The state of the Khorezmshahs was destroyed by Genghis Khan at the beginning of the 13th century. Subsequently, the Genghisids ruled on its territory, and at the end of the 14th century. Tamerlane (Timur), a native of one of the local tribes, defeated the Golden Horde and extended his power throughout Central Asia, making ancient Samarkand (ruled 1369–1415) his capital. At the turn of the XIV–XV centuries. Tamerlane, one of the greatest conquerors of world history, created a gigantic empire, almost not inferior to the former empire of Genghis Khan: it included Central Asia, part of the Black Sea region, the territories of modern Iran and Afghanistan, part of India, a campaign in China was being prepared, but before it was accomplished Tamerlane died. In addition, he defeated the Turkish Sultan Bayazet the Lightning, took him prisoner and carried him with him in an iron cage. The grandson of Tamerlane was the famous astronomer Ulugbek. After the death of Tamerlane, the conquering power he created, which did not have solid foundations, collapsed, like the similar empires of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. In the XVI–XVIII centuries. On the territory of most of Central Asia, three states emerged that competed with each other: the Khanate of Khiva (the lands of the former Khorezm), the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanate of Kokand (in the Fergana Valley, Tashkent became its capital). They also included the lands of the Kyrgyz (Kokand), Tajiks (Bukhara and partly Kokand), and partly the Turkmens (Khiva and Bukhara). But the dominant layer in all three was the Uzbek ethnic group. More than once they were subjected to invasions by the Persians and Dzungar nomads.

In the 60–70s. XIX century Turkestan, as Central Asia was then called, was conquered by the Russian Empire, which competed with the British Empire in the Middle East. One after another, Kokand, Bukhara and Khiva capitulated. Bukhara and Khiva were preserved as autonomously self-governing territories of the empire, since their rulers - the Khan of Khiva and the Emir of Bukhara - recognized themselves as subjects of the Russian emperor; The Kokand Khanate, after an unsuccessful uprising, was abolished and included in the internal possessions of the empire as the Syrdarya, Samarkand and Fergana regions of the Turkestan Governor-General, which also included the southern regions of present-day Kazakhstan. The center of the Turkestan General Government was Tashkent, the former capital of the Kokand Khanate and the current capital of Uzbekistan. However, despite the Russian administration and the presence of Russian troops, the number of Russians and their influence on the life and everyday life of the local population before the revolution were insignificant: Turkestan was considered the remote and most backward outskirts of the empire, needed solely for military-strategic reasons. In 1916, a major uprising for independence took place on its territory under the leadership of Amangeldy Imanov, which was suppressed by tsarist troops.

After the revolution of 1917 and during the Russian Civil War of 1918–1920. The Bolsheviks formed the Turkestan Soviet Republic in Tashkent, but only held Tashkent itself and the railway junctions. The Khan of Khiva and the Emir of Bukhara recognized the power of the White Guard supreme ruler Admiral A.V. Kolchak, who issued special letters for them with guarantees of maintaining autonomy and the national structure. After the defeat of Kolchak's army, the White Cossack detachments and the troops of the Khan of Khiva and the Emir of Bukhara, by the summer of 1920, Soviet power was established on the territory of Turkestan: the Turkestan Soviet Republic was declared an autonomous republic of the RSFSR, the Khanate of Khiva and the Bukhara Emirate were liquidated and transformed into the Khorezm and Bukhara People's Republics. In 1924, they became part of the Soviet Union and, during the national-territorial demarcation, were divided into the Uzbek SSR, the Turkmen SSR, the Tajik Autonomous Republic within Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Autonomous Republic within the RSFSR. Subsequently, Tajikistan (since 1929) and Kyrgyzstan (since 1936) were transformed into equal union republics. Instead, in 1936, Uzbekistan was given the Karakalpak Autonomous Republic, formerly part of the RSFSR. However, even before 1933, the Basmachi guerrilla war against Soviet power continued in the region. The famous leader of Uzbekistan during the Soviet period was from 1959 to 1983. Sharaf Rashidov, also famous for corruption and fraud. In the mid-80s, dozens of corrupt senior leaders of the republic were arrested in the “Rashidov case”. Uzbekistan gained state independence in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR.

Ethnic composition of the population. Uzbeks are sometimes called Central Asian Aryans, since they are the most ancient of the modern large ethnic groups of Central Asia and the most numerous of them, which dominated the region for several centuries before joining Russia. The birth rate in the region is traditionally high, and the population of Uzbekistan is growing rapidly - according to the 1989 census, there were up to 20 million inhabitants in the republic, and according to 2002 data - already over 25 million. The Uzbeks themselves belong to the family of Turkic peoples and profess Islamic (Muslim) ) Sunni faith, like the rest of the titular ethnic groups of Central Asia. In the republic they make up the overwhelming majority of the population at 80% - more than the titular nations in all other Central Asian republics. Like them, tribal clan divisions have been preserved among the Uzbeks.

Outside of Uzbekistan, 2 million Uzbeks live in the north of Afghanistan, 1 million 200 thousand in Tajikistan, 550 thousand in Kyrgyzstan, over 300 thousand in Kazakhstan, and the same number in Turkmenistan.

Of the other peoples of Uzbekistan, the most numerous are Russians - 1 million 400 thousand (of which almost half are in the capital of the republic, Tashkent, making up almost a third of its inhabitants), Tajiks - 1 million 250 thousand (mostly also in cities, and they make up the majority in the oldest cities countries - Samarkand and Bukhara), Kazakhs - 750 thousand, Karakalpaks - up to 600 thousand, Tatars - up to 400 thousand and Kyrgyz - 250 thousand. After the collapse of the USSR, the share of Russians was halved due to emigration to Russia.

During and after the collapse of the Union, Uzbekistan did not avoid ethnic problems. The memorable massacre of Meskhetian Turks by Uzbeks in the Fergana Valley in 1988, which led to the mass evacuation of this people from the republic, was later supplemented by not so obvious and bloody, but methodical oppression of the Russian population, which caused its mass emigration.

The share of the urban population does not reach 40% and has decreased compared to the Soviet period due to the emigration of Russians, who lived mainly in cities. The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, is the largest city in all of Central Asia (over 2 million people), in the past it ranked 4th in terms of population in the USSR. Other large cities: Samarkand (400 thousand), Namangan and Andijan (300 thousand each).

Natural and economic potential. The traditional basis of the economy of Uzbekistan is irrigated agriculture with the cultivation of cotton. Since 4/5 of the country's territory is desert and semi-desert, water is extremely scarce, and irrigation of fields is an urgent need. Long-term excess of the maximum permissible water intake from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya has become one of the reasons for the shallowing and drying of the Aral Sea.

The republic has reserves of oil, gas, coal, uranium, non-ferrous metals, and gold. The basis of energy is 3 thermal power plants and 3 hydroelectric power stations. There are machine-building and aviation factories and textile factories.

Uzbekistan is the transport hub of Central Asia; all main railways, highways and pipelines pass through it, and this is its economic advantage over its neighbors. Tashkent has an international class airport.

Although Uzbekistan contributed almost 3.5% of the USSR's GDP, labor productivity and living standards lagged behind the Union average. Its main role in the economy of the Soviet Union was limited to the supply of cotton, which became a real monoculture: its sown areas during the Soviet years expanded 4 times, while no attention was paid to grain crops, they even decreased by almost a third.

Essay on modern history(since independence). In Uzbekistan, the authoritarian regime of the personal power of the country's first and still permanent president, Islam Karimov, a former leader of the Republican Communist Party, has established itself. The case is quite typical for the eastern and southern republics of the former Union. Parliament and political parties in Uzbekistan are nothing more than decoration; they are completely controlled by the executive branch. In this regard, only Turkmenistan was “ahead” of it in the entire post-Soviet space. The real opposition was suppressed through repression, its leaders were forced to emigrate, under the pretext of re-registration, opposition movements did not undergo new registration in 1993. The ruling party is the National Democratic Party, transformed from the Communist Party.

Consistently pursuing a policy of a secular state, the Karimov regime legally prohibits religious organizations from engaging in politics and keeps them under strict control. Islamic extremists wage a guerrilla war against it: in 1999–2000. they attempted a coup d'etat, carried out an assassination attempt on Karimov and other major terrorist attacks, and in 2004, a series of terrorist attacks in cities. Their leader Juma Namangani was killed during the 2001 US anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. A number of “Islamists” aim to create a Muslim caliphate in Central Asia. Particularly large was the Islamist uprising in Andijan in May of the same year, which broke out largely under the influence of the March “Tulip Revolution” of 2005 in neighboring Kyrgyzstan. But, unlike the Kyrgyz President A. Akayev, Karimov behaved decisively and suppressed the rebellion. President Karimov considers Islamic fundamentalism a danger to the state and harshly suppresses all its manifestations. Over the past years, 10 thousand activists of the Islamic movement have been arrested in the republic.

In Uzbekistan, as in Turkmenistan, state regulation of the economy has been fully preserved; market reforms have allowed only small businesses in the country. All large-scale industry and 4/5 of agriculture are in the hands of the state; the public sector dominates the economy of the republic.

Central Asia is a region that covers a fairly vast territory. It does not have access to the ocean, and it includes many states, some partially, some completely. The countries of Central Asia are very different in their culture, history, languages and national composition. This region is distinguished only as a geographical unit (unlike the Ancient East, which was a cultural region), so we will consider each of its territories separately.

What powers are included in the geographical area?

So, first, let’s look at all the countries and capitals of Central Asia to form a complete picture of what lands are included in it. Let us immediately note that some sources single out Central Asia and Central Asia, while others at this time believe that they are one and the same. Central Asia consists of such powers as Uzbekistan (Tashkent), Kazakhstan (Astana), Tajikistan (Dushanbe) and Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek). It turns out that the region is formed by five former Soviet republics. In turn, the countries of Central Asia include these five powers, plus western China (Beijing), Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar), Kashmir, Punjab, northeastern Iran (Tehran), northern India (Delhi) and northern Pakistan (Islamabad), This also includes the Asian regions of Russia, which are located south of the taiga zone.

History and features of the region

The countries of Central Asia were first identified as a separate geographical region by the geographer and historian Alexander Humboldt at the end of the 19th century. As he stated, the historical characteristics of these lands were three factors. Firstly, this is the ethnic composition of the population, namely the Turks, Mongols and Tibetans, who over the centuries have not lost their characteristics and have not assimilated with other races. Secondly, the way of life that was inherent in almost each of these peoples (with the exception of the Tibetans). For centuries they fought wars, expanded the borders of their powers, but despite this, they retained the identity and uniqueness of their nation and traditions. Thirdly, it was through the countries of Central Asia that the famous Silk Road passed, which was the basis of trade relations between East and West.

Central Asia or part of the CIS

At the moment, five former Soviet republics represent the region of Central Asia, which from time immemorial has had its own culture, religion and peculiarities of life. The only exception has always been Kazakhstan, since completely different people have always coexisted in these territories. Initially, during the creation of the Soviet Union, it was even decided to make this state part of Russia, but later it nevertheless became part of the Islamic republics. Today, Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia are a significant part of the region, which is full of minerals, rich history and at the same time many religions of the world coexist in it. This is one of the few places where there is no official belief, and everyone can freely confess their Word of God. For example, in Almaty, the Central Mosque and the Ascension Orthodox Cathedral are located nearby.

Other Central Asian countries

The total area of the region is 3,994,300 square kilometers, and most cities, even the largest ones, are not particularly densely populated. Russians began to leave the capitals and other important metropolises of these countries en masse after the collapse of the Union, which led to a demographic decline. Uzbeks are considered the most common race in the region. They live not only in Uzbekistan, but are also national minorities in all other four states. In addition, Uzbekistan itself can be distinguished from the background of the entire Central Asia by the presence of a huge number of cultural and architectural monuments. There are quite a lot of madrasahs and Islamic colleges concentrated in the country, where people come to study from all over the world. Also on the territory of the state there are museum cities - Samarkand, Khiva, Bukhara and Kokand. There are a lot of ancient Muslim palaces, mosques, squares and observation platforms.

Asia, which extends to the very East

It is simply impossible to separate the Central Asian region from the Far East for cultural and historical reasons. These powers were formed, one might say, in unity; they both waged wars with each other and concluded various treaties. Today, the countries of East and Central Asia maintain friendly relations and are also characterized by similar racial characteristics and some customs. East Asia itself includes such developed powers as China, Mongolia (a controversial issue - it is in both the Central and Eastern parts of the region), South Korea, Taiwan, North Korea and Japan. This geographical area is distinguished primarily by religion - everyone here is Buddhist.

Conclusion

At the very end, we can say that the countries of East Central Asia are a synthesis of cultures that have been mixed for centuries. Representatives of a huge racial family, the Mongoloid family, live here, which includes many subgroups. Let’s also note a small thing, but it’s a fact - the locals really love rice. They grow it and consume it almost every day. However, this geographical region did not become completely unified. Each country has its own language, its own characteristics and racial differences. Each religion has its own distinct direction, each type of art is also unique and inimitable. The most interesting ones were born in Central and East Asia, which spread throughout the world and became a symbol of these countries.

Lecture 5. General ethnographic characteristics of the region.

Characteristics of Central and East Asia

Countries and peoples of Southeast Asia.

The Asia-Pacific region is an economic and political region that includes about 50 states united by trade relations. These countries have access to the Pacific Ocean and use its waters for transport communications. Important industrial and trade centers within the Asia-Pacific region are developed industrial and agro-industrial countries. These are Russia, China, Japan, Canada, and the USA. The total population of the Asia-Pacific region reaches 3.5 billion people.

Within modern Foreign Asia, there are five largest historical and ethnographic regions or historical and cultural regions. Such regions should be considered, firstly, South-West Asia, including all the Arab countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, and secondly, Central Asia (MPR and three national regions of the PRC: Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Tibet), thirdly, South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives), fourthly, Southeast Asia - divided into mainland (Indo-Chinese) and island (Indonesian-Philippine parts; and , finally, East Asia (most of China, Korea and Japan). The boundaries between these regions changed. Thus, the south of China until the first centuries AD, from a historical and ethnographic point of view, was part of Southeast (and not East) Asia .

The high level of development of the leading Pacific countries is the main reason for the increasing role of this economic union in the world economy. The Asia-Pacific region occupies a leading position in international trade relations.

Many economists believe that with the gradual decline of the old industrial centers in Europe and the eastern United States, the center of global economic activity may shift to the Asia-Pacific region.

The high level of development of the leading Pacific countries is the main reason for the increasing role of this economic union in the world economy.

Japan, China and the group of countries and territories of the “Far Eastern Tigers” form the integration core of this region. The geographical and historical features of Japan's development contributed to its establishment as one of the main leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. Due to high rates of economic growth, this country has taken a prominent place in the world economy (almost 1/10 of the world's GDP), and has also become a financial superpower and a strong rival to the United States and Western European countries. For Asia-Pacific countries, Japan is an important foreign trade partner. Its entrepreneurs invest not only in the mining industry and agriculture, but also in the manufacturing industry, trade, and financial activities of the countries of the region. China is occupying an increasingly strong position in the Asia-Pacific region. Its economic potential can already be compared with the indicators of the economically most powerful countries in the world. This country, where more than 6% of world GDP is produced, huge reserves of mineral raw materials and significant labor resources are concentrated, can be considered as an independent center of the world economy.
The Asia-Pacific countries present opposite socio-economic and different political systems; their population is multiethnic and professes all three world religions - Buddhism, Christianity, Islam. The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most ethnically, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse regions of the planet. Despite the fact that the region is developing, its population largely adheres to traditional culture, trying to combine it with the values of the Western world. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region is characterized by significant population mobility, which stimulates ethnic and cultural processes and ensures the mutual influence of various civilizational lines of development.

Without knowledge of the main ethnic groups of the region and their culture, it is impossible to assess the economic and political processes in the region.

Characteristics of Central and East Asia.

Central and East Asia are vast spaces, occupying one-fourth of the Eurasian continent (12 million km 2). Here are the Mongolian People's Republic (about 2.3 million people), the People's Republic of China (more than 1200 million people), Korea (two states - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea - about 68 million people in total), as well as Japan (more than 125 million people).

Central and Eastern Asia have been inhabited by people for a very long time. In the Zhoukoudian Cave (near Beijing), the bone remains of a primitive man were found - Sinanthropa(close in skeletal structure to the Javan Pithecanthropus), who lived here about 400 thousand years ago. At the turn of the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. e. The first state in this part of Asia arose in the Yellow River basin. In 221 BC. e. The ruler of China assumed the title of emperor. In the history of the Chinese Empire there was a constant struggle with northern nomads (including Huns), Civil strife broke out, weakening the state. In the first centuries of our era, a strong state emerged in the northern steppe belt of East and Central Asia - the Turkic Khaganate, which existed until the 7th century. n. e. The Turks were replaced Khitan, later (in the 13th century) China was conquered by the Mongols, and in the 17th century. - Manchus. In the XIX-XX centuries. China was subject to expansion by Western European states and Japan. All these events affected the political and cultural development of not only China and the Chinese, but also other states and peoples of Central and East Asia.

Anthropologically, almost the entire population of Central and East Asia belongs to various branches great Mongoloid race; only the Uighurs are Caucasian (with a small Mongoloid admixture).

The languages of the peoples inhabiting Central and East Asia form six large language families. In languages Altai family They say Uighurs(about 7 million people), Kazakhs and Kyrgyz(More details are given about the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz in the chapter dedicated to the peoples of Central Asia and Kazakhstan). The languages of these peoples are included in Turkic group. On Mongolian language, included in the Mongolian group of languages of the Altai family, they say Mongols China (more than 4 million people), Mongols of the MPR (more than 2.2 million people) and Oirats. To the same family (her Tungus-Manchu branch) languages also included Manchus(10 million people; however, the vast majority of them now speak Chinese) and very few peoples settled in the Amur region. Most researchers recognize belonging to the Altai family Korean And Japanese languages.

Sino-Tibetan(i.e. Sino-Tibetan) family is represented by languages belonging to two groups. The Chinese group includes languages Chinese(about 1 billion 200 million people) and Dungan(more than 8 million people). The Tibeto-Burman group is the Tibetans (about 5 million people) and the Itzu (more than 6 million people).

The Thai family includes the Zhuang language (more than 15 million people). They are the largest people in China, after the Chinese.

2. COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asia includes the Indochina Peninsula and the Malacca Peninsula, which continues it in the south, as well as the Indonesian (or Malay) and Philippine archipelagos. The peoples of this part of Asia have gone through different paths of historical development, their representatives live in different states, have different anthropological characteristics and speak numerous and varied languages. The study of the history and culture of the peoples of the countries of the southern seas is also interesting because, along with the modern, industrialized population, there to this day you can find small groups of people scattered in remote forest areas who have not yet reached the level of civilization.

In Southeast Asia are located: the Republic of Myanmar (Burma, about 45 million people), the Kingdom of Thailand (about 60 million), the Lao People's Democratic Republic (about 5 million), the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (about 72 million), Kingdom of Cambodia (approx. 10 million), Federation of Malaysia (approx. 20 million), Republic of Singapore (approx. 2.9 million), Republic of Indonesia (approx. 190 million), Sultanate of Brunei (approx. 0.3 million), independent territory of East Timor (approx. 0.8 million), Philippine Republic (approx. 66 million).

The relief of the continental and island parts of Southeast Asia is highly rugged; Along with vast river valleys, there are high mountains and many volcanoes, including active ones. The climate is hot, humid, corresponding to the tropical, subequatorial and equatorial zones. There are only two seasons in the year: dry and rainy. There are many rivers in Southeast Asia, both small and large, such as the Mekong, Menam, Irrawaddy, and Barito. Vast areas are swampy. Once upon a time, all of Southeast Asia was covered with forests, but over time their area has been greatly reduced, although today they occupy vast areas. The flora and fauna are very rich. Large predators, elephants, rhinoceroses, many snakes, other reptiles, and birds live here.

Southeast Asia is rich in minerals: precious metals and stones, tin, uranium, etc. Pearls are mined and fished in the seas.

GENERAL ECONOMIC AND GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ASIA

Foreign Asia is the largest region of the world in terms of area and population, and it has maintained this primacy, essentially, throughout the entire existence of human civilization.

The area of Foreign Asia is 27 million km2, it includes more than 40 sovereign states. Many of them are among the oldest in the world.

Foreign Asia is one of the centers of the origin of humanity, the birthplace of agriculture, artificial irrigation, cities, many cultural values and scientific achievements. The region mainly consists of developing countries.

Geographical position. General review.

The region includes countries of different sizes: two of them are giant countries, the rest are mainly quite large countries. The boundaries between them follow well-defined natural boundaries.

The EGP of Asian countries is determined by their neighboring position, the coastal position of most countries, and the inland position of some countries.

The first two features have a beneficial effect on their economy, while the third complicates external economic relations.

The political structure of the countries is very diverse: Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Jordan are constitutional monarchies, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Brunei, Oman are absolute monarchies, the rest of the states are republics.

Natural conditions and resources.

The region is extremely homogeneous in terms of tectonic structure and relief: within its boundaries there is the greatest amplitude of heights on earth, both ancient Precambrian platforms and areas of young Cenozoic folding, grandiose mountainous countries and vast plains are located here. As a result, Asia's mineral resources are very diverse. The main basins of coal, iron and manganese ores, and non-metallic minerals are concentrated within the Chinese and Hindustan platforms. Within the Alpine-Himalayan and Pacific fold belts, ores predominate. But the main wealth of the region, which also determines its role in the MGRT, is oil. Oil and gas reserves have been explored in most countries of South-West Asia, but the main deposits are located in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran.

The agroclimatic resources of Asia are heterogeneous. Vast tracts of mountainous countries, deserts and semi-deserts are little suitable for economic activity, with the exception of animal husbandry; The supply of arable land is small and continues to decline (as the population grows and soil erosion increases). But on the plains of the east and south, quite favorable conditions for agriculture are created.

Asia contains 3/4 of the world's irrigated land.

Population.

The population of Asia is 3.1 billion people. All countries in the region, with the exception of Japan, belong to the 2nd type of population reproduction, and now they are in a state of the so-called “demographic explosion”. Some countries are fighting this phenomenon by pursuing demographic policies (India, China), but most countries do not pursue such a policy; rapid population growth and rejuvenation continue. At the current rate of population growth, it could double in 30 years. Among Asian subregions, East Asia is the furthest away from the peak of its population explosion.

The ethnic composition of the Asian population is also extremely complex: more than 1 thousand peoples live here - from small ethnic groups numbering several hundred people to the largest peoples in the world. The four peoples of the region (Chinese, Hindustani, Bengalis and Japanese) number more than 100 million each.

The peoples of Asia belong to approximately 15 language families. Such linguistic diversity is not found in any other major region on the planet. The most ethnolinguistically complex countries are: India, Sri Lanka, Cyprus. In East and South-West Asia, with the exception of Iran and Afghanistan, a more homogeneous national composition is characteristic.

The complex composition of the population in many parts of the region (India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, etc.) leads to acute ethnic conflicts.

Foreign Asia is the birthplace of all major religions; all three world religions originated here: Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. Among other national religions, it is necessary to note Confucianism (China), Taoism, Shintoism. In many countries, interethnic contradictions are based precisely on religious grounds.

The population of foreign Asia is unevenly distributed: population density ranges from 1 to 800 people. per 1 km 2. In some areas it reaches 2000 people. per 1 km 2

The growth rate of the region's urban population is so high (3.3%) that this growth has come to be called the "urban explosion". But, despite this, in terms of urbanization level (34%), Foreign Asia is in penultimate place among the regions of the world.

For rural settlement, the village form is most typical.

Farm

The role of foreign Asia as a whole in the world economy has increased significantly in recent decades. But differences in the levels of development and specialization of individual countries are more pronounced here than in foreign Europe.

Japan occupies an isolated position, since it is the “No. 2 power” of the Western world, the only member of the “Big Seven” in this region. In many important indicators it occupies a leading position among economically developed Western countries;
China and India have also made great strides in economic and social development in a short time. But in terms of per capita indicators, their success is still small;
the newly industrialized countries of Asia - the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as Thailand and Malaysia, members of ASEAN. The combination of a profitable EGP and cheap labor resources made it possible, with the participation of Western TNCs, to carry out in the 70-80s. restructuring the economy along Japanese lines. But their economy is export-oriented;
oil-producing countries - Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Persian Gulf, which, thanks to “petrodollars”, in a short time managed to go through a development path that would have taken them several centuries. Now not only oil production is developing here, but also petrochemistry, metallurgy and other industries;
countries with a predominance of mining or light industry in the industrial structure - Mongolia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Jordan;
least developed countries - Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen - modern industry is practically absent in these countries.

Agriculture

In most Asian countries, the bulk of EAN is engaged in agriculture. In general, the region is characterized by a combination of commodity and consumer economy, landownership and peasant land use, and a sharp predominance of food crops in the crops. The food problem in many countries has not yet been resolved; in South and Southeast Asia, tens of millions of people are on the verge of starvation.

In accordance with the distribution of agro-climatic resources, population and traditions, 3 large agricultural regions have emerged: the rice growing region (covering the monsoon sector of East, Southeast and South Asia) combined with tea growing in the higher parts; subtropical farming area (Mediterranean coast); the rest of the territory is dominated by the cultivation of wheat, millet, and pasture animal husbandry.

Ecology

As a result of poor farming practices, the negative anthropogenic impact in foreign Asia is reaching alarming proportions. As a result of intensive mining without environmental protection measures, extensive agriculture, and an increase in the number of inhabitants, air pollution, depletion of water resources, soil erosion, land alienation, deforestation, and depletion of natural biocenoses occur. Frequent conflicts and wars in the region only worsen the situation. For example, the war in the Persian Gulf led to acid rain, dust storms, massive soot and oil pollution of waters and soils, and caused irreparable damage to the fauna and flora of the region. Ecocide during the American aggression in Vietnam is no less notorious, when forests on an area of about 0.5 million km 2 were deliberately destroyed over the course of several years.

Figure 9. Subregions of Overseas Asia.

Notes

The Palestinian territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip) were occupied by Israel in 1967.
In May 2002, East Timor gained independence.
The territory of Macao, under Portuguese administration, enjoys internal self-government.

Tasks and tests on the topic "General economic and geographical characteristics of Asia"

Climate zones of the Earth - General characteristics of the nature of the Earth, grade 7
Lessons: 5 Assignments: 9 Tests: 1

Lessons: 4 Assignments: 9 Tests: 1

Leading ideas: show the diversity of cultural worlds, models of economic and political development, interconnection and interdependence of countries around the world; and also be convinced of the need for a deep understanding of the laws of social development and the processes that occur in the world.

Basic concepts: Western European (North American) type of transport system, port-industrial complex, "development axis", metropolitan region, industrial belt, "false urbanization", latifundia, ship stations, megalopolis, "technopolis", "growth pole", "growth corridors"; colonial type of industrial structure, monoculture, apartheid, subregion.

Skills and abilities: be able to assess the influence of EGP and GGP, the history of settlement and development, characteristics of the population and labor resources of the region, country on the sectoral and territorial structure of the economy, the level of economic development, the role in the MGRT of the region, country; identify problems and forecast development prospects for the region and country; highlight specific, defining features of individual countries and explain them; find similarities and differences in the population and economy of individual countries and explain them, draw up and analyze maps and cartograms.