The 'Stans', have always existed in violent circumstances being surrounded by larger countries, Russia, China and Persia, all with ambitions to take them over, and when they weren't fighting off the invaders they fought between themselves. Throughout the 19th Century, British India was fearful of being invaded by Russia. The two great powers were involved in a constant struggle to persuade the ‘Stans’ to enter into agreements to support them. Meanwhile surveyors, disguised as locals, criss-crossed the area to try and find suitable routes for an invading army and locations that could be defended.
Stan means ‘land of’. Hence Uzbekistan is the land of the Uzbeks.
Population Land Area
Pakistan 240M 340,500 sq.m.
Afghanistan 40M 250,000 sq.m.
Turkmenistan 6.5M 250,000 sq.m.
Tajikistan 10M 55,300 sq.m.
Kyrgyzstan 6.7M 78,000 sq.m.
Kazakhstan 19M 1,000,000 sq.m.
Uzbekistan 36M 173,000 sq.m.
Alexander the Great, in the 1st century BC, built a vast empire from the Mediterranean to northern India. Genghis Khan, in the 12th and 13th centuries came from Mongolia and conquered the whole of the ‘stans’ and beyond and Timorlane, born in Uzbekistan built a vast empire in the 14th to early 15th century.
But time moves on and the remains of ancient towns serve to illustrate how buildings and highways have developed over the centuries.
During the middle ages the major buildings were built with mud bricks and covered with miniscule glazed tiles to protect them from the weather. The tiles created fantastic works of art but, until the last few centuries, animals and women were not depicted as they may have diverted mans attention from their duties to the spiritual gods.
Jonathan drove along the Khyber Pass in 1970. A photo of the current pass clearly illustrated how much the 'Silk Road' has improved during that relatively short period. During his first visit when the country was under Soviet rule the quality of life was abysmal but today' as an independent free state, it has improved beyond recognition. Tourism has become a major business' but there are still areas of deprivation which reflect living in centuries gone by.
Many old buildings have been renovated and turned into modern hotels and offices but the architecture still reflects the traditional tiled styles of years ago.
Jonathan clearly enjoyed the local cuisines albeit the range of varieties was somewhat limited compared with western menus.
Jonathans' story continued to retain our interest and was liberally illustrated with his fine quality photographs we have come to anticipate. Chevrolet cars, modern trains, street markets, a mix of modern and traditional dress, donkeys and carts, all added to a fascinating and informative depiction of a country that we could not have placed on the map.