Historical Photos of Central Asia

Images of Life in Central Asia

These are all old photographs taken in the late 19th/early 20th century in Central Asia, including present day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, East Turkestan and Tibet.

     
     


Nomads in Central Asia

"Nothing could give me a more vivid picture of nomadic life; and when afterwards I questioned a Kirghiz woman respecting this mode of existence, she answered laughingly, 'We shall, I am certain, never be so indolent as you Mollahs and remain sitting days and days in one place! Man must keep moving; for behold, sun, moon, stars, water, beasts, bird, fish, all are in movement; it is but the dead and the earth that remain in their place!" - Armenius Vambery from 'Travels in Central Asia'

     
     


Street Life in the Cities of Turkestan

     
     
     


Photos from the Library of Congress

     
     


Tibet

     
     





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