What Countries are Located in Central Asia?

The countries which are located in Central Asia include:

Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Mongolia
Afghanistan
Northern and western Pakistan
Northeastern Iran
Jammu and Kashmi
Southern Siberia

It has even been said that parts of China are included as making up Central Asia.

Iranians in Central Asia

While there is a very diverse population of people that make up the area, it had been said that, at one point in time, the entire area of Central Asia was considered mostly Iranian.

This was during the earlier Islamic times and was due in part to the fact that most of the inhabitants spoke a dialect of the Iranian languages.

Ethnicities and People within Central Asia

Having a list of countries which are located in central Asia is not enough to fully understand the ara. The history of the area is incredibly rich.

Uzbekistan

The largest ethnic group within Central Asia are the Uzbeks. In Uzbekistan, most of its ancient cities were located on what was known as the Silk Road. The Silk Road was the route used for trading between the country of China and the West (or rest of the world.) The name “Silk Road” was due in part to the notion that silk was the commodity that was most in demand by western countries such as Europe.

Also in the country of Uzbekistan, the city of Khiva is known worldwide as “the city museum” because of its subtleties, nuances and peculiarities. Khiva is a very old city with a tremendous amount of history. It’s documented history dates back to the 10th century when it was part of the Silk Road.

Tajikistan

Other countries in Central Asia also have interesting fact as well. For example, in the country of Tajikistan, in its Kurgan Tyube city, there were horses known as the Bactria or the “heavenly racers” that were the basis of the cavalry of Alexander the Great.

Also in Tajikistan is the city of Khujand, which is one of the centers of mountaineering in Central Asia.

Religions in Central Asia

Central Asia is also fascinating because of the varying religious beliefs in the countries and that the notion of shamanism shares the land with Buddhism. The Buddhism component of the religions of Central Asia is a product of the direct influence from the neighboring country, China.

Additionally, there is a native tradition of improvisation infused oral storytelling that is practiced in Central Asia. For over 1000 years, this custom has been practiced in the countries of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

In the vein of the oral tradition, the orators in both Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan engage in lyrical battles, much like rap artists in America engage in battles of words. The only difference is that they do so in Central Asia over the accompaniment of a string instrument called a komuz.

As you can see, Central Asia is ripe and full of history and intrigue, and visiting any of the countries in Central Asia can provide you with a rich and exciting tourist experience.