A Very Brief Introduction to Turkmenistan
by Greg Lastowka
Turkmenistan is a desert country located in Central Asia to the north of Iran and to the east of the Caspian Sea. It is a newly independent state as of 1991, and was formerly a republic of the Soviet Union. The Turkmen people speak the Turkmen language, which is a Turkic language (similar to Turkish, Kazakh, and Uzbek). Turkmenistan was a birthplace of early civilization. In Bairamali, the walls of Ancient Merv, over 2000 years old, are incorporated into the walls of contemporary houses. Though the territory of Turkmenistan was at times a part of various dynasties and empires, "Turkmenistan" was never really a country prior to the twentieth century, but was instead a region inhabited by distinct tribes that shared a common culture. The history of Turkmenistan and the Parthian and Selucid empires, can be found on various Internet websites. ( go to links page The contemporary borders of Turkmenistan were drawn by Josef Stalin. Soviet membership changed Turkmenistan's culture and people in many ways. Though initial resistance to Russian occupation had been fierce, over time the majority of Turkmen, especially those in the urban centers, came to regard themselves as Soviets citizens. Many Turkmen people learned to speak Russian, and Russian language ability was a practical requirement for participation in government. Russian schools were built to promote the goals of Soviet society, and achieved some remarkable results. The Soviets helped develop agriculture and industry in the area, though some of their methods, most notably the draining of the Aral Sea, have led to serious ecological problems. | |
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