Name used from classical times until the twentieth century to designate a great tract of Asia stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean. To the north lies Siberia, to the south (going from the Caspian eastward) lies Persia, Kashmir, Tibet and China. Again, from west to east, it is divided into three parts:
- Turkestan
- subdivided into
- Russian Turkestan
- comprising Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizia (Turkish speaking) and Tajikistan (Persian speaking)
- and
- Chinese Turkestan
- comprising Sinkiang or Xinjiang (Turkish speaking) and Dzungaria (Mongol speaking)
- subdivided into
- Mongolia
- comprising
- Tuva or North Mongolia (Turkish speaking)
- Outer Mongolia (Mongol speaking)
- Inner Mongolia (Mongol and Chinese speaking)
- comprising
- Manchuria
See also: Tartary