Final answer:
The true statement about Central Asia is that it experienced cultural mixing due to the Silk Road. The region's complex geography and significant role in the Silk Road trade facilitated the exchange of cultures, goods, and ideas for centuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question about Central Asia is A: It experienced cultural mixing due to the Silk Road. Central Asia has a rich history that includes significant cultural and economic exchanges facilitated by the Silk Road, which was an extensive network for trade and cultural exchange connecting the region with distant parts of Europe and the Far East. Central Asia was not where Islam was founded (option B); instead, Islam was founded in the Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore, the region has not always been very isolated (option C), as it was a vital connection between different cultures and empires due to its location. Lastly, its geographical features such as mountains and deserts make it difficult to navigate and defend, which contradicts option D.
The region's varied geography includes vast grasslands called steppes, large deserts such as the Kara Kum and Kyzyl Kum, and high mountains to the east providing a border with China. Despite religious suppression during the Soviet era, Islam has remained the dominant religion in Central Asia. The transition to independence from the Soviet Union has posed enormous changes to the political and economic systems of the region. The Aral Sea crisis exemplifies environmental and geopolitical challenges that Central Asia faces due to past water use policies.