The Peoples of Central Asia

©Edward J. Vajda

Central Asia is the western part of Middle Asia (whereas the term Inner Asia refers to the eastern part of inland Middle Asia). This area was part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and now contains the following independent countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan (or Tadzhikistan). All the peoples living in this area are Moslems who fell under Russian domination comparatively late (in the mid-19th century). Four peoples--Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Turkmen--are Turkic speaking and have lived in Central Asia at least since the time of the Mongol Empire. The Tajiks (also spelled Tadjiks or Tadzhiks) are Iranian speaking and related to the peoples of Afganistan.