When considering the factors that govern the development of glaciation in a particular region, researchers usually limit themselves to describing climatic and topographic characteristics. Such an approach is entirely sufficient if the objective is merely to produce a “snapshot” of a glacierized area or to describe the contemporary state of glaciation. However, for understanding and explaining glaciation, especially the history of mountain glaciation, these two factors alone are insufficient. Inevitably, a third factor must be introduced: the tectonic factor. This was already pointed out by K. K. Markov in 1939 (Gerasimov and Markov, 1939). The works of a number of authors, including K. K. Markov, M. G. Grosvald, E. V. Maksimov, B. A. Fedorovich, E. M. Shcherbakova, as well as foreign scholars such as F. Machatschek, A. Heim, and W. Wundt, have focused on certain relationships between glaciers, glacial landforms, and tectonic activity. Nevertheless, no comprehensive study devoted specifically to the multifaceted influence of tectonic movements on glaciation has yet appeared. Even the most detailed glaciological monographs (Tronov, 1954, 1956; Kalesnik, 1963; Flint, 1963; Klebelsberg, 1948-1949, among others) either do not address this problem at all or mention only a few isolated aspects. At the same time, a large amount of interesting and diverse information is scattered throughout the publications of researchers from both the Soviet Union and other countries. Between 1955 and 1973, the author, as a member of the Tien Shan High-Mountain Physical Geography Expedition, visited many glacierized regions of the Tien Shan for research purposes. Over time, information concerning the influence of tectonic movements on glacier evolution and the formation of glacial landforms gradually accumulated. The study of aerial photographs also yielded much valuable information. However, the work presented to the reader is not confined to the Tien Shan and is by no means a regional study. It draws upon a large body of published material that, in essence, covers virtually all major high-mountain glacier regions of the world. The author has attempted, as comprehensively as possible, to address all aspects of the interaction between tectonic movements and glaciation. The author expresses sincere gratitude to Academician K. K. Markov, Professor V. M. Kotlyakov, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, and M. G. Grosvald, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, who carefully reviewed the manuscript and provided numerous valuable comments and suggestions. The author also wishes to thank R. D. Zabirov, Director of the Tien Shan Physical Geography Station, for the assistance and support provided during field investigations.