Uzbekistan Culture

by: Fayoza Pardaeva, Diana Akhtyamova & Fozil Allayev

Geography● Location: Central Asia

● Total: 447,400 sq km

● Land: 425,400 sq km

● Water: 22,000 sq km

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

● More than 2.5 millennia

● Invaded by:

o Alexander the Great (327 BC)

o Arabs (7th -8th centuries)

o Turks ( 9th century)

o Genghis Khan (13th century)

o Tamerlane the Great (14th century)

o Russian Colonization (early 19th century)

● USSR (1925-1991)

● Independent Uzbekistan (1991-present)

History

http://www.uzbekistan.org/uzbekistan/history/

Flag of Uzbekistan

-Blue represents the clear blue sky and water-two red lines respresent blood of the people-white represents peace-green represents the green vegetation that is grown in fertile lands-moon represents the religion Islam -12 stars represent 12 months in a year

People

● Population: 28,929,716 (July 2014 est.)

● Birth Rate: 17.02 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

● Death Rate: 5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

Ethnicity

● Ethnic Groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

Language

● Languages: Uzbek (Official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

Religion

● Religions: Muslim 88%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

Age Structure

Age Structure:

● 0-14 years: 24.9% (male 3,693,838/female 3,514,734)

● 15-24 years: 20.5% (male 3,008,779/female 2,934,534)

● 25-54 years: 43% (male 6,178,921/female 6,255,715)

● 55-64 years: 6.8% (male 926,129/female 1,036,576)

● 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 588,881/female

791,609) (2014 est.)● Population Pyramid:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

Literacy

● Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

● Total population: 99.4%

● Male: 99.6%

● Female: 99.2% (2011 est.)

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

UZBEK CUISINE

Food ● Bread holds a special place in Uzbek culture● Referred to as “tandir non” ● Preferred not to be cut with a knife, which means it is always

torn by hand● It is cooked in large ovens called “Tandoors”● During mealtime you tear the bread and spread it around

“dusterhon” (table cloth)● Working in bakeries is highly respected ● Green tea with raisins, and nuts are very

common snacks to put with bread.

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Uzbekistan.html

Food- Plov or “osh-polov” is considered the king of the Uzbek cuisine- This food is served to guests in weddings, funerals and any other

celebrations or events.- Often eaten on Fridays- Uzbeks have been eating plov for 1,000 years!!!- Basic ingredients are: rice, onion, meat, carrot, salt and water- Mostly men cook the festive plovs

http://www.travelcentre.com.au/FoodWineBeer/uzbek_food.htm

Cultural Diffusion in Culinary Arts- Persian Empire extended deeply into Central Asia- “Pilaf” (rice filled goody) is known to originate in Persia - Rice had been growing in East Asia and India for thousands of years.- Through the Silk Road “pilaf” or “osh” reached Uzbeks and others- This dish was served to Alexander the Great of Macedonia himself- Today the dish is consumed as far east as Xinjiang province in Western China and

in North Africa.- This has obviously led to expansion diffusion

http://eurasian-sensation.blogspot.com/2009/06/pilaf-how-rice-dish-conquered-world.html

Wedding ● Traditionally Uzbek people celebrate weddings very richly and cheerfully. ● The celebration begin since the early morning with a festal wedding “pilaf”

prepared in the houses of the groom and bride. ● During the wedding, bride and her maid of honor, groom and his best man

sit together throughout entire wedding. A bride can never leave her seat without a female next to her and same for the groom.

http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/traditions/wedding.htm

Wedding (2nd Day) ● Early in the morning after the wedding

party the holiday is continued with the ceremony of Kelin salom. ● Kelin salom: young wife should welcome

every guest, bowing from the waist to everyone, and guests should give her gifts and greetings.

http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/traditions/wedding.htm

Music● Traditional Uzbek music has ancient

sources. ● Folklore Uzbek music which came from

the people is divided into many genres.● Among them are lullabies and children’s

songs as well as ritual, work, daily life songs, songs-dialogues, dancing and lyric fados.http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/culture/music.htm

Dance The main difference of Uzbek dance from dances of other Eastern nations is the accent on complicated and expressive hand gestures and animated facial expressions.

http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/culture/dance.htm

Popular vs. Folk Culture

https://www.google.com/search?q=shaxzoda&biw=1093&bih=520&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-Wl-VIyEE4_haJjIgKgO&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#tbm=isch&q=uzbek+culture&imgdii=_

Pop Culture- Many people have iPhones, iPads, Beats and other electronical products - Uzbekistan is participating in pageants now- Pizza is becoming a common fast food- Behaving like Americans- People are shopping less in “bazaars”- Supermarkets are becoming options- Women are more independent - Women prefer European clothes over traditional dresses- Cultural appropriation can be seen in Uzbeks celebrating New Year every

Jan 1st with Santas and presents ( customs from Russia)- there are many changes parks and zoos created indicating various cultural

landscapes.http://www.uzbekistan.org/uzbekistan/culture/ttp://www.uzbekistan.org/uzbekistan/culture/

Folk Culture

- “Navruz” is one of the oldest holidays - Celebrated in March 21st every year- Uzbek NEW YEAR!!!- “Sumalak” is a traditional food that takes 24 hours to cook ;)- cooking it with actual “rocks” ROCKS!!!- National Dresses called “atlas” are very popular- Music with “Karnay va Surnay” in weddings- Rooster fighting- Bazaars

http://eumkff.blogspot.com/p/information-about-tajikistan.html

ENVIRONMENT

● Climate: Mostly mid latitude desert, long , hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

● Shortage of Water ● Along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the

world● Huge impact by European countries,

causing the population to westernize.- Environmental Determinism played a major

role in shaping the culture of Uzbekistan by making us unique.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

Popular Tourist Destinations1.Registan- ancient city in “Samarkand”

2. Gur-e Amir is a mausoleum of the Asian conqueror Tamerlane in

3. Bibi-Khanym Mosque is namedSamarkand, Uzbekistan

after the wife of the 14th century

ruler, located in Samarkand, Uz.

http://www.visituzbekistan.travel/sightseeing/place/touristattraction/

Bibliography● Advantour. (n.d.). Wedding. Retrieved December 2, 2014 from

http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/traditions/wedding.htm● Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Library-The World Factbook-Uzbekistan. Retrieved November 30, 2014 from

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html● Embassy of Uzbekistan to the United States. (n.d.). About Uzbekistan - History. Retrieved November 23, 2014, from

http://www.uzbekistan.org/uzbekistan/history/● Every Culture.(n.d.). Culture of Uzbekistan. Retrieved December 2, 2014 from

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Uzbekistan.html ● Slide 1 - http://www.orexca.com/img/uzbekistan_map.jpg ,http://namangancity.uz/sites/cityportal/files/Uzbekistan-Flag.gif● Slide 2 - https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html ● Slide 3 - http://orexca.com/img/museums/temurids_museum/temur1-1.jpg● Slide 4 -

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JmrDhyAqIQ/T4igVKSF8oI/AAAAAAAAF2s/Q15nHgaux18/s1600/Uzbekistan%2B28.jpg● Slide 5 - http://www.remotelands.com/images/itinerary_more/140417003.jpg● Slide 6 - http://media.tumblr.com/7a95f2a9bae475802dfbdaba9dfbe815/tumblr_inline_n8i4ad5BMn1rusikm.jpg● Slide 7 - http://www.uzbektravel.com/img/art/namaz.jpg , http://www.eurasianet.org/sites/default/files/_MG_4818-1.jpg● Slide 8- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html● Slide 9 - http://ut.uz/userfiles/images/VKH_0073-(1).jpg● Slide 10 -

https://www.google.com/search?q=uzbek+culture&biw=1093&bih=520&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=e0h-VOjEE4XraN6ygtAD&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

● Slide 21- http://daraint.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/31-700x466.jpg