Description
Book SynopsisOffers a history of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia from the time of the first inhabitants of the region up-to the break-up of the Mongol Empire in 1260 AD. This book sets political events in the broadest context of social and economic change, linking evolution to the vast geography of the territories it describes.
Trade Review"Overall, this is an excellent book. It is rich in detail and has a good blend between description and history. It is everywhere fair and balanced in its interpretations. It is well written and well produced with good illustrations, maps, a useful chronology which divides the region into west, centre and east, and an excellent and extensive, albeit overwhelmingly English-language bibliography. Perhaps most important of all, although the histories of the various areas of concern to this book are reasonably well trodden paths, it crafts a new interpretation by taking up a distinct area of focus - inner Eurasia - and succeeds admirably in convincing the reader of the significance and interest of that region's history. I strongly recommend the book."
Asian Ethnicity Journal
"Well-written, impressive and bold synthesis ... One looks forward eagerly to volume 2."
The Russian Review
"Big picture history requires energy, openness and risk taking, a willingness to escape from the well-worn grooves of academe ... Christian has effected a great escape."
Journal of Asian Studies
Table of ContentsList of Plates vii
List of Figures viii
List of Maps ix
List of Tables x
Series Editor’s Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction xv
Part I the Geography and Ecology of Inner Eurasia 1
1 The Geography and Ecology of Inner Eurasia 3
Part II Prehistory: 100,000–1000 BCE 21
2 First Settlers: The Old Stone Age 23
3 Hunters and Gatherers after the Ice Age 46
4 The Neolithic Revolution: Seventh to Third Millennia BCE 69
5 The Bronze Age: 3000–1000 BCE 99
Part III the Scythic and Hunnic Eras: 1000 Bce–500 Ce 121
6 The ‘Scythic’ Era: 1000–200 BCE 123
7 Outer Eurasian Invasions and their Aftermath 163
8 The Hsiung-nu Empire 183
9 ‘Barbarian’ Invasions before 500 CE 209
Part IV Turks, Mawara’n-nahr and Rus’: 500–1200 245
10 Turkic Empires of the East 247
11 Turkic Empires of Western Inner Eurasia 277
12 Mawara’n-nahr: Islamic Civilization in Central Asia 304
13 The Origins of Rus’ 327
14 Before the Mongols: 1000–1220 353
Part V the Mongol Empire: 1200–1260 383
15 Chinggis Khan 385
16 The Mongol Empire and a New ‘World System’ 409
Conclusion 430
Chronology 432
Bibliography 437
Index 460
