History—Certain Aspects of the Geology and Ecology of Central Asia That Led to the Rise of Pastoral Nomadism and Irrigation Agriculture
Introduction
Central Asia is a large and vast continent that is known for its diverse geographic features and inhabitants who have perfected the trade of agriculture and warfare. Even during the time wherein factions from the Han Dynasty and Mongolian Empire dominated much of the territories in Central Asia, the people there have already been rising fast as forerunners of modern day irrigation, agriculture and trading . In order to examine this phenomenon, we will take a look at the various aspects and conditions that made Central Asia a successful culture that once pioneered and further improved agriculture and trade.
Diversity of topographic features – Central Asia’s topography is noticeably diverse and varied. Unlike other continents, its land features are so different from each other that it almost seems like a different continent and geographic area altogether. In Central Asia, there are certain parts that feature mountains and an almost tropical climate and there are also some regions characterized by and hot deserts and a humid climate. Apart from mountain temperatures and hot deserts, we can also see some areas covered with tundra and other regions that have vast, treeless but grassy steppes.
Absence of a huge body of water to feed its requirements
Despite the large land area, Central Asia does not have a huge source of water that would be sufficient enough to sustain the people’s needs. It is largely a landlocked region that does not receive enough rainfall and have abundant natural sources of water. This has led to various agricultural problems because water is a central need for the maintenance and sustenance of efficient agricultural activities . Various wars have been fought in this part of the world for control over water sources.
Rapid fluctuations of climate
It would be safe to say that these unique geographic and ecological conditions place a strain on the development in this region and improvement in the quality of life of the people. However, despite all these irregularities and problems, Central Asian settlements have adapted well to these problems and have actually become one of the leading regions in the world in terms of trade and agriculture.
Rise of Pastoral Nomadism
The solution that proved to be a successful one was the adoption of nomadic pastoral practices. In this scenario, people raised livestock while travelling from point to another, never really residing permanently at a certain place. They were forced to keep on moving and moving until their supplies run out. A depleted or nearly depleted source of food usually served as a signal that it is already time to move on to another place. In that way, people from Central Asia learned how to move from one place to another depending on their needs, or what’s more appropriate for the majority of the population. Their livestock served as their primary form of transporting foods and commodities. Fortunately, the selected breeds of livestock during that time were able to withstand the stresses and other challenges such as frequent shortages of food and water. This has provided them with a solution to the problem of getting an abundant supply of food and water to keep the livestock healthy. Because of the strong resistance of their livestock to various stressors, they did not have to look for food and water as frequently as needed. In addition to the advantages of the livestock, livestock growers also benefited from the nomadic pastoral practices invented. These people did not have the need to build houses and shelter at a permanent place. They can come and go as much and as often as they wanted. However, they had to consider factors such as the weather conditions and if there any other forms of danger that could hinder their expeditions. Nomadic living became the ideal situation in order to cope up and adapt to the unique climate and topography in Central Asia. Pastoral nomadism was well established throughout Central Asia and had been one of the primary means of living.
The nomads of Central Asia were not just ordinary walking nomads. They were experts at horseback riding and this became a primary advantage that greatly helped them explore the undiscovered rich lands in the region.
Stimulus for the Spur of Irrigation and Other Agricultural Reform
Apart from pastoral nomadism, the natives of Central Asia have also found an innovative way to go about its agricultural practices despite the difficult geographic condition. Central Asia is primarily deficient in natural water sources. With the availability of water in that region, it is virtually impossible to till the land and make it suitable for agriculture. The inhabitants from Central Asia inhabitants did not let such topographic limitation deter them from reaching their goals. The need for an abundant supply of food was a pressing need that required an immediate solution. In order to feed its growing population, nomadic living and pastoral practices would surely not be enough. Hence, the creation of agricultural waterways and irrigation was seen as a promising solution.
Through artificial irrigation, many lands that would have been useless prior to the creation of these waterways were utilized as agricultural lands . While pastoral nomadism provided the natives with meat and other similar food sources, irrigation has supplemented this food supply with land grown products.
When the waterways were diverted into many of the lands of Central Asia, these people were able to witness and experience an overall increase in food supply. The large and primarily treeless grasslands and steppes of the region that were formerly non-capable of producing agricultural products were utilized efficiently . People no longer had to rely on natural climate conditions to give them the needed amount of rainfall and moisture appropriate for agriculture.
The Silk Road and the Ideal Location For Inter Country Trade
The nomadic pastoral nature and irrigation were not the only conditions that made Central Asia great. Its geographic location has also made it an ideal meeting point for inter-country trade. Its geographic location is ideal for serving as a bridge for neighboring regions.
The Silk Road was mainly used for trading. It was a route that effectively promoted the economic and cultural exchanges between east and west countries, and it has also contributed to the prosperity of countries from various eras in history. The so-called Silk Road of Central Asia became a center for trade and development in the region. Silk was a valuable commodity that was traded and coveted in Central Asia. This material has greatly transformed the Central Asian region into a center for economic excellence and at some point, military preparedness. Because of the vast improvements in trade, agriculture, and other economic success indicators in Central Asia, it became a hot spot for the transfer of goods and other products internationally. Trade and relations with neighboring countries has generated huge and numerous sources of income for nomadic Central Asian natives. Apart from silk, agricultural products and other goods, the people of Central Asia also benefitted from non-economic aspects of exchange in the region. They received a large influx of religious ideas and other cultural exchanges which was instrumental in its fast development. The Silk Road has provided the economic advantage to make Central Asia a prime leader in trade and international relations . Economic conditions for this region of the world experienced an unprecedented rise because of the above-mentioned factors.
Beyond Geographic and Economic Reasons
Apart from being a leader in pastoral and land-based agriculture, the people of Central Asia also became prominent economically because of other reasons. The strong military preparedness and effectiveness of their planning has made this region of the world a highly respected and coveted one. The primarily nomadic nature of the natives has made them more resilient to harsh climate fluctuations that are characteristic features of this place. Their nomadic nature has also given them an almost unfair advantage of knowing the topography of their region. The horseback nomads have all the necessary practice and advantage that could make them militarily superior to other countries. This made them resilient to invaders and other threats to their security. As a result, the people of Central Asia were able to dominate in and reign in the region for hundreds of years under strong and well-established dynasties.
Their control of the center of communication and transport via the Silk Road also gave them the economic advantage against conquerors or would-be invaders. The dynamic location of the Silk Road has provided them with the military knowledge and ideas that are far more superior and hybrid than the other countries’.
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