Stories Worth Telling:

Central Asia: A Fascinating History, Land & People

Historically, Central Asia’s climate and geography have made agriculture and trade difficult. As a result, few major cities developed.

Instead, nomadic horse peoples dominated the region for thousands of years. These tribal horsemen were also skilled warriors and when united, formed an almost unstoppable military force. Two examples of such exploits include the Hun invasion of Europe and the Mongol conquest of much of Eurasia.

When the famous Silk Road trade route began in the second century B.C., the route’s midpoint was in the region of present day Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

This area’s varied terrain includes desert, steppe, forests, river valleys and breathtakingly beautiful mountains. Today, the peoples of these countries are known for their traditional culture, warmth and hospitality.

These lands are tremendously rich in history and archeology, evidenced by hundreds of architectural monuments. It is a place where history and ancient tradition live on, fantastically blended into modern day.

For further reading:

• About Uzbekistan
• About Kazakhstan
• About Central Asia