PRESENT CULTURE OF NORTH ASIA

ARMENIA

The culture of Armenia

elements

that

are

encompasses many
based

on the geography,

literature, architecture, dance, and music of the people.The

culture is similar to and yet distinct from many of the bordering countries
like Russia, Georgia,

and Iran as

well

as Mediterranean nations

such

as Greece

and Cyprus.
The Armenian dance heritage has been one of the oldest,
richest and most varied in the near east. From the fifth to
the third

millennia

B.C.,

in

the

higher

regions

of Armenia there are rock paintings of scenes of country dancing. These dances were
probably accompanied by certain kinds of songs or musical instruments. In the 5th
century Moses of Khorene (Movss Khorenatsi) himself had heard of how the old
descendants of Aram (that is Armenians) make mention of these things (epic tales) in the
ballads for the lyre and their songs and dances.
Classical Armenian architecture is divided into
four separate periods. The first Armenian churches
were built between the 4th and 7th Century, beginning
when Armenia converted to Christianity, and ending
with the Arab invasion of Armenia. The early churches were mostly simple basilicas, but
some with side apses. By the 5th century the typical cupola cone in the center had
become widely used. By the 7th century, centrally-planned churches had been built and a
more complicated niched buttress and radiating Hripsim style had formed. By the time
of the Arab invasion, most of what we now know as classical Armenian architecture had
formed.

AZERBAIJAN
The cultural heritage of Azerbaijan is grand and distinctive.
Since Azerbaijan used to be a part of Persian and Turkic states its cultural development
was greatly influenced by those. It is particularly noticeable in literature and music.
Azerbaijan is known for such bright representatives of culture as Nizami Ganjevi
(XII century), poet-panegyrist Qatran Tabrizi (XI century), classic of Azerbaijani poetry
Fizuli

(XVI

century), who

wrote

legendary

lyric-epic

poem

"Layla

and

Majnun". Creation of Nizami influenced not only Azerbaijani literature but also many
other medieval Oriental countries' literatures. The most influential piece of Nizami was
Pentateuch ("Khamse") - five poems which differ in plot and composition but united by
the

author's

common

idea.

The cultural life was bubbling in such cities as Ganja, Shamakhi, Tabriz. The
feudal rulers' courts boasted their communities of poets, thinkers, philosophers,
musicians. Such lyric genres of poetry as rubai, kasyds, gazelles works of poetry were
under development. The largest monument of medieval Azerbaijani literature is Kitabi
Dede Korkuhd ancient heroic epos where traditions and culture are described and
various musical instruments and whole fragments connected with music which witnesses
the ancient history of Azerbaijani music are mentioned.

Food
Due to the fact that 9 of the worlds 11 climate zones can be found in Azerbaijan, its
fertile land produces an abundance of fresh herbs and vegetables which contribute to the
quality of the local food.
Beyond the variety of soups and kebabs, Azerbaijans most distinctive dish is the plov, a
saffron rice-based dish which is traditionally accompanied with a variety of herbs and
fresh vegetables.

GEORGIA

Georgia is a country with ancient and rich original

culture which goes back as far as millennia. Its knowledge and
recognition has crossed national borders and entered the international level to become the
cultural legacy of the mankind.
Georgian monumental architecture, world-renowned art of singing and music,
book miniature, rich spiritual and secular literature, colorful dances, jewelry, chasings
and paintings along with the hospitable Georgian people are inalienable part of this
ancient country.
The original geographical position of Georgia on the border between European
and Asian continents reflected on its culture which absorbed Near-Eastern, European and
local Caucasian traditions. The important trading ways crossing the territory of Georgia
and connecting the north with the south, and the east with the west were the source of
penetration for the elements of new cultures, traditions, trends, tendencies, doctrines etc.
Deliberate wisdom of the Orient and progressing dynamism of the West met there in
Georgia.
The period of the 11 th the 12 th centuries were the Renaissance of Georgian
state when monks in academies, churches and monasteries put forward new humanistic
ideas. Even during the Middle Ages philosophy and historiography, theology and law,
poetry and art prospered in Georgia . Architecture, astronomy, geography and other
branches of knowledge were being developed. Applied art began to arise; especially
jeweler's business and art of metals processing (chasing) which still prosper.

KAZAKHSTAN
The Kazakhs are an extremely hospitable people. If you come to a Kazakh home
unexpected you will be received as if you had been invited. Since early childhood
principles of respect of guests and older people as well as peacefulness and tolerance are
instilled in every Kazakh and these are the national features of Kazakh culture and
tradition. This is why Kazakhstan didn't have any significant national or religious
conflicts in its history. Traditionally every guest is offered dishes of national Kazakh
cuisine at the dastarkhan (the low table) in a yurt.
Yurts

The yurt is one of the most sensible movable house. It is a comfortable and
practical home, ideally suited to the local conditions and way of life one of the greatest
inventions of Eurasian nomads.
It is easily taken apart (it is said that a Kazakh woman can
do it in half an hour) and carried on horses and camels. The yurt
consists of three main elements: an extensible trellis base (the kerege), a dome made of
poles (the uyk) and a round top (the shanyrak).
The Kazakh national dress
The Kazakh national dress varies by regions. Men wear
chapans, a kind of dressing gown with a belt, made of velvet and richly embroidered.
They cover their heads with a soft skullcap , a tall felt cap or a fox-fur hat with earflaps.
The women's national costume consists of a white cotton or colored silk dress, a velvet
waistcoat with embroidery and a cap or a silk scarf. Elderly women wear a hood made of
white cloth with a hole for the face . Brides wear a tall pointed, richly decorated hat,
topped with feathers .

KYRGYZSTAN

Culture of Kyrgyzstan takes its roots in antiquity. Its formation was largely
influenced by Turkic tribes that migrated in the early Middle Ages from the territory of
the Altay and East Turkestan. Before the 20th century there was the Kyrgyz tribal
division. Some of the Kyrgyz still adhere to this tradition. This can be seen even in the
division of the Kyrgyz into the southern and northern Kyrgyz. Customs and traditions of
the southern Kyrgyz of the Ferghana Valley and the Eastern Pamirs differ from the
traditions of the northern Kyrgyz living in areas of the Tien Shan, Issyk-kul lake region
and areas of the Chu and Talas rivers. The nature of the prevailing economic structure nomadic herding and the patriarchal family life left a deep imprint on the material culture
of the Kyrgyz. Dwellings, traditional clothes, food - everything is dictated by the need of
frequent nomadism.
Settlements
Prior to joining the Russian Empire the
main type of settlement were villages, and the Kyrgyz , because of their nomadic
lifestyle, moved from place to place.
But during the Soviet era Kyrgyz were gradually subside, resulting in a radical
change in their lifestyle. Today most of the Kyrgyz are settled, moving to larger cities, but
there are still traditional villages in the mountains and rural areas.
Clothing
Traditional clothing of the Kyrgyz has undergone many changes during its
development. As other aspects of material culture, the Kyrgyz clothes clearly show
distinctive features that were peculiar to individual tribal and territorial groups, it is also
distinguished by the unique typical for the nomads.

MONGOLIA
Most people probably think of Mongolia as being inhabited by a single ethnic
group in view of the small population size of 2.9 million people with 1.6 people per
square kilometer - the Mongols - this is wrong. The rich cultural and social fabric of
Mongolia is made up of 20 different ethnic groups one of which is a
non-Mongol group - the Kazakhs.
Mongolian Traditional Attire, Mongolian National Costumes
Mongols do like to wear nice, richly decorated clothes which compensate the
simple, ascetic nomadic lifestyle. A harsh climate and uneasy life demand attention to
smallest details of clothes. The nomads" wardrobe is compact but has many variations
able to serve for different purposes. "It is amazing how this nation invented clothes that
can fit all seasons and needs, well thought off and used in many different ways," wrote
Medieval travelers from Europe.
Mongolian Traditional Crafts
Mongolian women, Mongolia embroidery, Mongolian crafts, Mongolian
artsMongolian nomads" homes, clothes, weapons and living conditions are impossible to
imagine without crafts and embroidery. Unique arts have developed from common things
used in everyday life of nomads over thousands of years. The beginning of decorative arts
was cave painting.
MongolianCuisine
The Mongolian cuisine is primarily based on meat and dairy products, with some
regional variations. The most common meat is mutton, supplemented in the desert south
by camel meat, in the northern mountains by beef . Dairy products are made from mare"s
milk , from cattle, yaks, and camels . Popular dishes include buuz , khuushuur ,
khorkhog, and boortsog .

RUSSIA

Russian culture is the culture associated with the

country

of Russia and,

sometimes,

specifically

with Russians. It has a long history and can claim a long

tradition of dividend in many aspects of the arts, especially
when

it

comes

to literature

music and ballet, architecture and painting, cinema

andphilosophy, classical

and animation,

which

all

had

considerable influence on world culture. The country also has a flavorful material culture
and a tradition in technology.
Russian culture started from that of the East Slavs, with their pagan beliefs and
specific way of life in the wooded areas of Eastern Europe. Early Russian culture was
much influenced by neighbouring Finno-Ugric tribes and by nomadic, mainlyTurkic,
peoples of the Pontic steppe. In the late 1st millennium AD the Scandinavian Vikings,
or Varangians, also took part in the forming of Russian identity and Kievan Rus' state. At
different points in its history, the country was also strongly influenced by the culture of
Western Europe. Since Peter the Great's reforms for two centuries Russian culture largely
developed in the general context of European culture rather than pursuing its own unique
ways. The situation changed in the 20th century, when the Communist ideology became a
major factor in the culture of the Soviet Union, where Russia, orRussian SFSR, was the
largest and leading part.
Nowadays, Russian cultural heritage is ranked seventh in the Nation Brands
Index, based on interviews of some 20,000 people mainly from Western countries and the
Far East. That's with the fact, that due to the relatively late involvement of Russia in
modern globalization and international tourism, many aspects of Russian culture,
like Russian jokes and the Soviet Art, remain largely unknown to foreigners.

TAIJIKISTAN
The traditions and culture in Tajikistan are
different and similar at the same time, the same as it is
in many different countries all over the world. But
Tajikistan is a small mountainous country and many
of its spots and areas were quite isolated just before the 20th century.
The flat areas and big cities were often times under "press" of continue invasions of
different cultures and ethnics. As result,You may see people with very different features,
from Mongolian. Definitely, the Tajik culture had some influence of other cultures, but in
its

origin

this

is

culture

of Iranian people; in language, music, behavior, architecture and etc. At present, it is

much related to so-called Islamic culture, although there are still remains of pre-islamic
culture, which is "adapted" to Islamic traditions. In Soviet time many traditions were
almost disappeared. So, many historical and traditional things might be seen in museums
only.
The traditional food is also changed in last 50-60 years . Traditionally, the Tajik
people,

especially

from

mountain

areas

used lots of vegetarian food. There were many different sorts of noodles and porridges
cooked in different way and methods. Often times, the porridges were mixed with
different dry fruits collected during summer and autumn. Probably, the moist popular was
mulberry trees and fruits. There are many different sorts of mulberry grow in Tajikistan
.Tajik people are traditionally good gardeners. The Iranian gardens were well-known
from ancient time. The word "paradise" also comes from old Iranian language: when
Greeks, leaded by Alexander the Great saw the gardens, they were very impressed of the
gardens beauty and asked the locals

TURKMENISTAN
The culture the Turkmen is slightly different from the cultural
traditions of the neighboring Muslim states of Central Asia. The reason to this is that the
ancestors of the Turkmen were nomadic tribes whereas the lands of modern Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan were populated by settled tribes of farmers. This particular fact reflected
on such aspect as cultural development of the Turkmen people. The basic cultural
milestones of Turkmenistan are related to the traditions of Turkic-speaking oguzs. The
latter go back to the pre-Islamic period. The oguzs' traditions found their reflection in
literature,

music,

folklore

of

the

Turkmen.

The most known source of that period is the national oguz epos "Oguz-nameh"
also belonging to the cultural legacy of the Turkmen, Azerbaijanis and Turks. It was
passed orally from generation to generation and was written down in the mid-16th
century. Another epic monument is the poem "Kitabi Dede Korkud" which reflected preIslamic tribal culture of the oguzs and the influence of Islam in the 11th - 12th centuries.
Epic

poems

were

performed

by

national

singers-storytellers.

Along with the introduction of Islam Arabian writing spread in Central Asia.
However Turkmen poetry used chagatai language (very similar to Persian) widely
accepted in Central Asia. It was the chagatai language that was used by Turkmen
literature. This language was also used by great Turkmen poets of the 18th century.

One of the greatest national poets of Turkmenistan was Makhtumkuli (17301880s). Before Makhtum kuli Turkmen poetry was very similar to Persian that is in the
form of Sufi philosophical treatises in poetic form. Makhtumkuli and his followers
started creating their works going beyond the narrow limits of the conventions
characteristic to Persian poetry. While doing this the widely used the motives of Turkmen
national poetry and its epic traditions. Seitnazar Seyidi (1775-1836) and Kurbandurdy
Zelili (1780-1836) are considered Makhtumkuli's successors.

UZBEKIISTAN
Uzbekistan

culture

is

very colorful

and

distinctive. It has been formed over millenniums and

has taken in traditions and customs of various nations
settled on the territory of today Uzbekistan.
The main contribution to the development was made by ancient Iranians, nomad
Turkic tribes, Arabs, Chinese, Russians. Traditions of multinational Uzbekistan reflected
in the music, dances, fine art, applied arts, language, cuisine and clothing. Population of
the republic, especially rural population revere traditions deeply rooted in the history of
the country.
The Great Silk Road played a great role in the development of Uzbekistan culture.
Being the trade route, it ran from China to two destinations: first one was to Ferghana
Valley and Kazakh steppes and second route led to Bactria, and then to Parthia, India and
Middle East up to Mediterranean Sea. The Silk Road favored to exchange not only goods,
but also technologies, languages, ideas, religions. Thereby the Great Silk Road led to the
spread of Buddhism on the territory of Central Asia, where you still may find traces of
Buddhist culture: Adjina-tepe in Tadjikistan, Buddhist temple in Kuva, Ferghana valley,
Fayaz-Tepa near Termez in Uzbekistan and etc.