Social Studies - Chapter 7 - Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Siberian Russia

tundra

a treeless zone found near the Arctic Circle or at high mountain elevations

taiga

a zone of coniferous forest (Siberia's taiga is swampy because of permafrost)

permafrost

a layer of permanently frozen ground that lies beneath the surface soil and rocks

steppe

dry grassland

deciduous

trees that shed their leaves in the autumn

pastoral

a word that describes nomads whose lives were based on herding animals

collective

government-run farms made up of smaller farms that helps the government control the crops

irrigate

to supply land with water through ditches or pipes

oasis

a green area by a water source in a dry region

homogeneous

of the same kind

yurts

traditional Kazakh homes: a round tent with a domed roof covered with heavy waterproof wool felt or animal skins

Which country has the largest population in Central Asia?

Uzbekistan

Why doesn't Central Asia have very many trees.

because of its arid climate

What 3 countries make up the Caucasus area?

Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia

Why is Siberia's taiga swampy?

the region is covered in permafrost (like the tundra), which is permanently frozen ground beneath the soil. permafrost covers 2/3 of Siberia

Which area supplies Russia with coal?

Central Siberian Plateau

Which 2 rivers supply Central Asia with water?

Syr Dar'ya and Amu Dar'ya

The ? was begun in 1891 and made it easier to import and export goods to and from Siberia.

Trans-Siberian Railroad

Who controlled the Silk Road?

whichever Central Asian empire was in control at the time

gulag

labor camp in Siberia

Siberia's population is overwhelmingly __________.

Russian

How do the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea affect climate in the Caucasus?

-make summers cooler and winters warmer
-the Black Sea gives Georgia's coastal lowlands a humid subtropical climate with a lot of rain
-gives the eastern mountains and valleys a drier climate

Describe the Timur empire's contributions to the arts and sciences in Central Asia in the mid-1300s.

-brought artists and scholars from other parts of the empire to their capital, Samarqand (Silk Road city)
-established madrassas, or Islamic learning centers
-these things helped Samarqand become a major center for mathematics and astronomy