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It seems like Central Asians, and even people in the Caucasus and parts of Iran, are multi-racial, some of them look Middle Eastern, some of them look East Asian, and some look Russian. Even within the same ethnic groups. Some Uyghur people in China look like they're from Europe, then others look just like Chinese people.
He rode 30000 miles around the former USSR and other countries last year and discovered ethnic groups of people we would not have heard of. Koreans in Uzbekistan, Buddhist Mongol descendants living in southern Russia, Tuvans, etc. They all have their own story.
What you observe is true, much of Central Asia is mixed race, and has been for several thousand years. The link above is about a huge cache of Caucasian mummies dug up in Western China [where the Uyghur people live now actually, the mummies are 3-4000 years old]. The Tarim people could pass as Swedes essentially, and they built up a nice sized kingdom before thier land was over ran by neighboring tribes.
On the other hand, the Huns, Mongols and Turkish people all migrated west from Mongolia and moved towards Central Asia, intermingling with caucasians along the way, and other people...So yea, the whole region is mixed race today. For those interested in history Central Asia has more than enough to occupy someone [and has decent places to visit...with some exceptions *cough*Afghanistan and a few others..*cough*].
You're kidding, right? You ARE talking about the region wherein all people with green eyes are said to descend from Alexander the Great (and they've got a point). Central Asia is the Great Game's genetic proof of history.
You're kidding, right? You ARE talking about the region wherein all people with green eyes are said to descend from Alexander the Great (and they've got a point). Central Asia is the Great Game's genetic proof of history.
No, you must be kidding to think you have something smart to add when you obviously dont.
Heres a *very* simple reason as to why Alexander the Great and his army did not contribute to the population at Tarim [besides the obvious fact they never stepped foot in that region...Or in many other Asian areas].
Alexander III of Macedon (356–323 BC)
Tarim mummies- The earliest Tarim mummies, found at Qäwrighul and dated to 1800 BCE, are of a Caucasoid physical type whose closest affiliation is to the bronze age populations of southern Siberia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and the Lower Volga.
Do you see a problem there ? I do. The Tarim population is 1500 years older than when Alexander the Great's army set foot into India. They are older than most civilizations...Do I need to go on ? I hope not.
As for the "green eyed" [and blue] populations in Central Asia, that began as a British myth to explain thier presence in Central Asia. The most likely scenario, is migrating populations of Caucasians from the Ukraine region moved into Central Asia and parts of Northern India several thousand years ago [with the Tarim civilization being the furthest East they spread to].
There is plenty of documentation of this and it is regarded as near fact today due to physical evidence. And back to the Greek bit...Most of the areas that still have populations with those features never had contact with the Greeks [they were hundreds of miles away from any Greek soldier].
That ethnic group for instance, was far from any Greek thrust into Asia. Yet geograghically they are close to where the Tarims lived [connect the dots].
I've been to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and yes there are people from all kinds of ethnicities there. The main cities still have a solid Russian and Asian population.
They still have strong majorites though with 3 prominent ethnic groups..
Uzbeks = decended from Turks and Iranians.
Kazaks and Kyrgyz = descended from Turks and Mongols.
Tajiks = descended from Iranians and Mongols.
I've been to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and yes there are people from all kinds of ethnicities there. The main cities still have a solid Russian and Asian population.
They still have strong majorites though with 3 prominent ethnic groups..
Uzbeks = decended from Turks and Iranians.
Kazaks and Kyrgyz = descended from Turks and Mongols.
Tajiks = descended from Iranians and Mongols.
You also have other groups, such as the Karakalpak, Bashkir, and Chagatai
Very true. By no means did I mean those were the only 3 ethnic groups. Central Asia is a real melting pot.
Alot of ethnic groups have traversed Central Asia. The Silk Route went through there on the way to Rome. Places like Bukhara became big because of it. You have travelers coming from all over for trade.
I am learning Turkish as part of a cultural group. I am finding similarities in the Turkish language to words in Central Asia. For example, the Turkish word for apple is elma. Almaty was once called Alma-Ata, which translated from Kazakh, means father of apples. Alma=apple. Ata-father. In Turkish, Ata means apple.
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