What are the 5 Stans?
The 5 Stans are the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgzystan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Are these new countries?
Kind of. Until 1991, the 5 Central Asian ‘Stans were all part of the Soviet Union, or USSR. They were then known by their ethnic title followed by Soviet Socialist Republic. For example, the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic and the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. Today they are all independent.
The Silk Road
You might think that you don’t know anything about Central Asian history, but chances are you know a little bit about one of the most important parts of Central Asian history, the Silk Road. The Silk Road passed through Central Asia, with some of the most important routes traversing the region.
