History of Asian Nations In the 1970s, Russia began the largest public works project in history to develop Siberia, The large-scale development created many industrial towns and infrastructure. Today, Siberia is the heartland of Russian power. Its riches promise to make Russia even richer and more powerful than before, Perhaps, like Australia, which was a prison colony and neglected land before, Siberia is the land of promise for Russia. If so, then Russia will once again become more interested in being Asian, than European. Central Asia, a Tinderbox Region Land and People. Central Asia (formerly Turkestan) is composed of five republics with Sunni Muslim culture and ‘Turkic population. It is easy to remember, them because all the countries end with the word “stan” — Kazakhstan (the largest), Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. They are bounded by the Caspian Sea, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China. Most of the region is desert and dry steppe. One of the world’s driest deserts is Turkmenistan, the Kara Kum desert, aptly called the “graveyard of caravans.” With an arid climate, crops can be raised only with irrigation. Butrich minerals make it ideal for industrialization. In Tashkent is found the world’s largest cotton mill. Kazakhstan, the largest of the five republics, is Russia’s main source of copper, lead, and ‘Ancient Kazakhstan Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan zinc. Uzbekistin is the main source of cotton and rice. Total population of the five republics is over 61 million, with a high Muslim birthrate. Here may be found the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgiks, Turkmens and Tajiks, and the diaspora of half a million Uyghurs (who were ousted from the Xinjiang province of China). These Central Asians are Turkic- Mongol-Arabic descent, with an Islamic culture and Muslim religion. History. The following things are significant about Central Asian history. Central Asia and its cities - Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent — were renowned centers of ancient civilization. AThe region lay on the historic Silk Road between Europe and Asia and was a crossroads of people, ideas and goods. Aln the Middle Ages, it was one of the most highly developed and prosperous parts of the Arab and Persian caliphates. AThe states became part of the 16 republics of the former USSR; and after that broke up in 1989, they separated into independent republics but have been largely isolated until recently. AThe region is a “tinderbox” and may become a battleground for outside powers, for it has frequently been squeezed by great powers in their power plays. AHalf a million Uighurs scattered in the region, many of them ousted from China, advocate the creation of an independent Dushanbe, Tajikistan Kyrgyz musicians $