Category: Central Asia
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History in 5ish Minutes: Frunze’s Strategy Against the Basmachi
Learn about the five tactics Red Army General Mikhail Frunze used against the Basmachi. If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon Help Pakistan Page Help Puerto Rico Page Resources “The Basmachi or Freemen’s Revolt in Turkestan 1918-1924 by Martha B. Olcott “Revolution in the Borderlands: The Case of Central Asia in a […]
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The Russian Civil War: Enver Pasha and the Basmachi
General, Mikhail Frunze entered Central Asia in 1920 and neutered the Musburo, overthrew both the Khivan and Bukharan Emir, and developed a counter-insurgency strategy to crush the Basmachi. However he encountered four problems with his plan: Frunze, in his efforts to overthrow the Bukharan Emir, woke up the hornet’s nest that was the Bukharan Basmachi. […]
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Episode 43-The Russian Civil War: Enver Pasha and the Basmachi
What happens when a former Ottoman Pasha, sentenced to death in absentia finds himself in Central Asia? If you’re Enver Pasha, you first align with the Bolsheviks before jumping ship and joining the Basmachi. Learn how Enver led the Basmachi until his death in a small village in eastern Bukhara. If you enjoyed this episode, […]
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Russian Colonialism in Central Asia 1860-1890
Russia and Central Asia have a long, intertwined history that altered between coexistence and conflict. The Russians didn’t start expanding eastwards until the 1500s and they didn’t ’t really consider invading the region until the 1700s and even then, it’s contained to the Steppe lands. We don’t really see engagements with major Central Asian powers […]
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A Brief History of Central Asia
The Samanids-7th to 10th Century In her book, Russia and Central Asia: Coexistence, Conquest, Convergence, Shoshana Keller wrote that “if you look at a map, Central Asia is at the center of everything but is itself nowhere.” I think that’s a pretty useful way of thinking about this region. It is surrounded by Russia, China, […]
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Episode 42-The Russian Civil War: Frunze vs the Basmachi 1920-1921
After disbanding the Musburo and overthrowing the Emirs of Khiva and Bukhara, Frunze has one more enemy to eliminate before communism can take hold in Central Asia: the Basmachi. Learn how Frunze created an counter-insurgency strategy against the Basmachi while dealing with mountain warfare, a ragtag army, and a region wracked with famine and sectarian […]
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Russian Civil War: Central Power POWs, Indian Revolutionaries, and British Agents, Oh My!
Central Power POWs Before the Russian Revolution, Russia was at war with the Central Powers during WWI and by 1917, had captured approximately 2.4 million prisoners from its eastern front alone. When considering all of their fronts, it is estimated they captured 8 million prisoners in total. These prisoners were held all over the Russian […]
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The Russian Civil War: Enter Mikhail Frunze and the Fall of the Last Emirs in Central Asia 1920-1921
From 1917 to 1919, Central Asia was cut off from Moscow and the Red Army. This allowed events in the Steppe and Turkestan to take their own course with a regionalized flavor. Beginning in 1919, that all ended with the defeat of the White Army in the Kazakh Steppe, the absorption of the Alash Orda […]
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Episode 41-The Russian Civil War: Enter Mikhail Frunze and the Fall of the Last Emirs in Central Asia 1920-1921
General Mikhail Frunze has arrived in Turkestan and identified the Musburo and the two Emirs of Khiva and Bukhara as threats to Communism. But can he win a war with the Emirs when facing an insurgency and famine? If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon Link to resources to Fight for Reproductive […]
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Episode 40-Russian Civil War: Central Power POWs , Indian Revolutionaries, and British Agents, Oh My!
Join us as we discuss the fate of Central POWs in Turkestan, what Indian Revolutionaries were doing in Tashkent, and how the British attempted to continue their Great Game spy adventures during the Russian Civil War. If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon Transcript Stand with Ukraine Resource Page Help Trans People […]
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Russian Civil War: The Basmachi Organize in the Ferghana 1918-1920
Leaders of the Basmachi The Basmachi, who are often thought of as the great bogeyman of Turkestan, spent most of 1918 and 1919 organizing themselves, mostly in the Ferghana, but there were a few units in the Khiva and Bukhara Emirates as well. The Basmachi originated in the aftermath of the 1916 Central Asian Revolt, […]
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Episode 39-Russian Civil War: The Basmachi Organize in the Ferghana 1918-1920
The Basmachi are facing famine, growing Red Army forces, and an uneasy alliance between the Bolsheviks and modernizing Muslim reformers. It’s time to organize or die. If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon Transcript Organizations that will help you run for office: Run for Something Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Democratic Association of […]
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Episode 38-Turar Risqulov: A Kazakh Revolutionary Leader
Turar Risqulov: mighty intellectual, leader of the Musburo, and a powerful Kazakh member of the Soviet Union. He was betrayed by the very ideology he supported, and executed along with others like him because their nationalistic legacy threatened an insecure Stalin. Learn about how he tried to save Turkestan during a Russian Civil War, his […]
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Episode 37-the Russian Civil War the Musburo: Creating a Muslim Nationalist-Communist Cadre in Turkestan, 1919
Kobozev arrived in Turkestan in 1918 and tried to bring order to the region. Facing resistance from the Russian Settlers, he turned to the Muslim population and created different political and governmental opportunities for them. One such opportunity was the Central Bureau of Muslim Communist Organizations of Turkestan (the Musburo). However, when the Muslims start […]
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Episode 36-the Russian Civil War The Struggle for Kazakh Autonomy in 1919
The Alash Orda can no longer trust the White Movement, but they burnt their bridges with the Bolsheviks back in 1918. As the Red Armies sweep the White Army out of Siberia, the Alash Orda have to repair their relationship with the Bolsheviks or become powerless and irrelevant. But why should the Bolsheviks accept the […]
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Episode 35-the Russian Civil War: Turkestan and Bolshevim
The Jadids are chased out of Kokand, Khiva, and Bukhara and they are outnumbered and outmaneuvered by their enemies: the Russian settlers, the Ulama, and the Basmachi. Their best hope lies with the Bolsheviks who need Turkestan to spread communism into the rest of Asia and Turkestan’s resources. But can a Islamic, nationalist, modernizing movement […]
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Episode 34- Giants of Alash Orda: Alikhan Bukeikhanov and Akhmet Baitursynov
Join us as we discuss two giants of Alash Orda and fathers of modern Kazakhstan: Alikhan Bukeikhanov and Akhmet Baitursynov. Indivisible’s Give Ground Campaign Indivisible’s Build Back Better Campaign Borderless Magazine Article on Increasing Vaccine Access in Prisons and ICE Detention Centers If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon
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Episode 33-the Russian Civil War: the Alash Orda and the White Army
After negotiations with the Bolsheviks stall, the Alash Orda turn to the White Movement in Siberia. What they find are endless political factions, Cossacks, numerous battles with the Red Army, and a White Army coup. Help Afghanistan Page Support the victims the Haitian Earthquake and Hurricane Ida Stand Up for Abortion Rights If you enjoyed […]
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Episode 32-the Russian Civil War: the Alash Orda and the Bolsheviks
The Russian Civil War knocks on the door of Siberia and the Steppe. The newly created Alash Autonomy must decide who they will ally with: the Bolsheviks or the White Army. Attracted by Bolshevik rhetoric, the Alash Orda start negotiates with the Soviets, but quickly learn that they have two, conflicting definitions of “self-determination” Help […]
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Episode 31-Kolesov Bukharan Campaign or How not to Invade Bukhara
The Tashkent Soviet just overthrew the Kokand Autonomy and now they rule Turkestan which is being threatened from all directions by famine, the Red and White Armies, the Basmachi, and violent tensions between the Russian Settlers and the indigenous peoples. So, obviously, the bests thing to do is invade their name the Bukharan Khanate. If […]
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Episode 30-Mustafa Cho’qoy “Imperialist Bogeyman from Turkestan
Mustafa Cho’qoy activist, minister, refugee, and Bolshevik enemy #1. Learn how a Kazakh activist went from being a minister in Turkestan’s first all Muslim, autonomous government to isolated expat in Paris struggling to get Europe to care about the plight of his people and Turkestan bogeyman that haunted Bolshevik dreams. If you enjoyed this episode, […]
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Episode 29-The Kokand Autonomy
In November 1917, the Muslim modernizers of Turkestan came together to create the Kokand Autonomy. But how can people with no governing experience govern a region racked by ethnic violence and famine while their neighbors, the Tashkent Soviet, are planning an all out assault? If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon Donate […]
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The Russian Revolution and the Khivan Khanate
Introduction Last week we talked about the Russian Revolution and Central Asia, but we limited it to the urban areas of Turkestan and the Bukharan Emirate. Today, we’ll be discussing how Russia’s other protectorate, the Khiva Khanate, responded to the fall of the Tsars. Khiva Under Russian Rule 1880-1916 As we discussed in our episode […]
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The Basmachi
We’ve spent considerable time exploring how the Russian Revolution affected Central Asia from several different perspectives. So far, we’ve talked about the Russian Settlers, the Alash Orda, the Jadids, and the Bukharan and Khivan Emirs. You may be thinking, that’s plenty of peoples and we’re ready to move onto 1918, but we have one more […]
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Episode 28-The Basmachi
Famine, civil wars, complete breakdown of authority-it only makes sense to join a guerilla movement that promises provisions and safety, right? Learn about the Basmachi, a group of warlords turned guerilla movement that became one of the Soviet’s most persistent headaches in Central Asia during the 1920s and 30s. If you enjoyed this episode, please […]
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The Russian Revolution and Central Asia-1917
When we last discussed Central Asia, they were in the midst of the 1916 Revolt, which is now seen as the harbinger of the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil Wars. Today we’ll discuss how the Russian Revolution affected Central Asia. Russian Revolution in Russia February Revolution 1917 is an odd year for Russia, because […]
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History in 5ish Minutes: Fathers of the Jadids in Turkestan
In this episode we discuss two giants within the Jadid movement in Turkestan: Munavvar qori Abdurashidxon and Mahmudxo’ja Behbudiy. Both men came from religious families, both men were successful merchants, and both men believed that reform was the only way to save Turkestani society. If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon References: […]
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The Russian Revolution and the Alash Orda-1917
Listen to our episode above or read our blog post version of our episode below: It’s 1917 and Central Asia is adjusting to a Tsarless reality. To briefly recap, because a lot has already happened and it’s about to get even more complicated: Russian settlers created the Tashkent Soviet in the city, Tashkent. It is […]
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Episode 27-the Russian Revolution and the Alash Orda
The Russian Revolution provided the Kazakh intellectuals an opportunity to create their own government and redistribute land that had been taken from them by Russian settlers. But what sort of government can you create when you and your fellow indigenous intellectuals can’t agree on the best way to rule and the Russian Civil War is […]
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Episode 26: The Russian Revolution and the Khiva Khanate
Today we are discussing how Russia’s second protectorate, the Khiva Khanate, reacted to the fall of the Romanov Dynasty. We’ll discuss Turkmen Revolts, a desperate Khan clinging to power, and a coup. If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon If you want to receive updates on our projects, join our newsletter A […]
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Book Review: Lost Enlightenment by S. Frederick Starr and Polymaths of Islam by James Pickett
Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia’s Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane by S. Frederick Starr, published by Princeton University Press, 2013 Polymaths of Islam: Power and Networks of Knowledge in Central Asia by James Pickett, published by Cornell University Press, 2020 I enjoyed both books and would highly recommend them to anyone interested in […]
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Episode 25-The Russian Revolution and Central Asia
Did you ever wonder how the Russian Revolution affected Central Asia? This episode discusses how the various political factions in Central Asia-the Jadids, Alash Orda, the Ulama, and the Russian Settlers-responded to the fall of the Tsar and the rise of the Bolsheviks. If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Patreon If you […]
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History in 5ish Minutes 5 Tactics the Russians Used during the Central Asian Revolt of 1916
Today we take a deep dive into the tactics the Russians used to suppress the Central Asian Revolt of 1916, discussing the Urkun Exodus, the mass reallocation of Steppe lands, and Kuropatkin’s decision to use an scorch earth strategy. Transcript coming If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Ko-Fi If you want to […]
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History in 5ish Minutes: 5 Tactics the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz Peoples Used during the Central Asian Revolt of 1916
During this episode we revisit the Central Asian Revolt of 1916, this time focusing on the tactics used by the indigenous rebels, particularly the Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples in the Steppe. We’ll discuss their use of hit and run tactics, the advantages the Steppe provided, and their targeted assaults on major infrastructure. Transcript coming If […]
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Episode 23-Interview with Dr. Adeeb Khalid
This is a very special episode as we discuss the Jadids with renowned scholar, Dr. Adeeb Khalid. The Jadids were an Islamic modernizing movement within Central Asia that would later find common cause with Bolsheviks and create modern day Uzbekistan. We’ll be discussing who the Jadids were, their doctrinal development, and how they fit within […]
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History in 5ish Minutes: 5 Facts about the Tsarist Administration in Central Asia 1890-1916
In this episode, we briefly discuss the Tsarist Administration in Central Asia, focusing on how the Russian administration created two societies one of the incoming Russian Settlers and one for the indigenous peoples. We also discuss the two biggest problems facing the Russian administration: land and the demand for political participation. Transcript coming If you […]
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Episode 22-the Central Asian Revolt of 1916
In this episode we discussed the Central Asian Revolt of 1916. Sparked by decades old administrative issues, the Russian settler’s “redistribution” of land and resources, and the Tsarist’s decision to conscription indigenous peoples (who up until that point that had been exemption of conscription), the revolution overtook most of Turkestan and lasted into 1917. In […]
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History in 5ish Minutes: the 1898 Andijan Uprising
In this episode, we discuss 5 facts abou the 1898 Andijan Uprising, discussing Madali Ishan’s revolt against Russian colonialism in Central Asia and stoking paranoid Islamophobia. Transcript coming If you enjoyed this episode, please donate to our Ko-Fi If you want to receive updates on our projects, join our newsletter
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Episode 21-Russian Colonialism in Central Asia 1860-1890
During this episode we will briefly discuss Russian colonialism in Central Asia from 1860-1890, focusing on the how and why. We’ll discuss the subsuming of Steppe Lands, the abolishment of the Kokand Khanate, the subjugation of the Bukharan and Khivan khanates, and the attacks on the Turkmen people of the Ferghana Valley. Transcript If you […]
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Episode 19-A BRIEF History of Central Asia
It’s season 2 of the Art of Asymmetrical Warfare! This season we’ll be discussing the Central Asian Civil Wars during the Russian Civil War. Today, we’re starting with a BRIEF history of Central Asia. In this episode we’ll explain how this podcast defines Central Asia, give a very brief overview of Central Asia’s ancient and […]
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Book Review for Making Uzbekistan by Adeeb Khalid
Rating: 5/5 Pros: A comprehensive exploration into the creation of Uzbekistan and its neighboring states A long overdue overview of an often-neglected region of the world Well-researched and detail heavy but still easy to read Cons: Need to know a little about the region before reading Is VERY detail heavy and needs to be reread […]
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5 Famous Women of Central Asia
When I’m not reading/researching history topics, I write fiction. My newest project is a Middle Eastern/Central Asian novel about a royal family trying to keep out colonists and a growing terrorist ring wanting to recapture the glories of the past. While writing this book, I need to do a lot of research. This week, I’ve […]
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Qodiriy, Fitrat, and Cho‘lpon
I recently finished Hamid Ismailov’s book the Devils’ Dance, which is about Abdulla Qodiriy’s last days in a Soviet prison and the book he was working on before his arrest. The book mentions several Uzbek writers who I was unfamiliar with, so I decided to do a little research. This was what I was able […]
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Emir Nasrullah, Stoddart, and Connelly
A few months ago, I finished Hamid Ismailov’s the Devils’ Dance, which is a historical novel about the famous Uzbek writer, Abdulla Qodiriy’s last days in a Soviet prison, and the book the real Qodiriy was working on, but never published about an Uzbek princess, Oyxon, and the courts of Kokand and Bukhara. I was […]
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