Description
Book SynopsisThis volume introduces the geographical setting of Central Asia and follows its history from the palaeolithic era to the rise of the Mongol empire in the thirteenth century. Distinguished international scholars discuss chronologically the varying historical achievements of the disparate population groups in the region.
Trade Review"The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia is the single best introduction in any language to the political history of the inhabitants of Inner Asia up to Mongol times. No other collective volume approaches the comprehensiveness of its scope; nor can any single-author history claim mastery of the many fields exhibited by its collective authorship. It concentrates on the most important strand in the history of this vast and storied region, home to nomadic herdsmen, forest hunters and sedentary oasis-dwellers alike." Journal of Asian History
"...was much needed and waited for...we should be grateful to its editor and the authors." Journal of Asian and African Studies
"The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia is now the single most important work in any Western language surveying the Turkic and non-Turkic peoples and states of early Inner Asia." Turkish Studies Association Bulletin
"This volume is a splendid synthesis of narrative and analytical history, and a definitive work of reference." Choice
Table of ContentsPreface; 1. Introduction: the concept of Inner Asia Denis Sinor; 2. The geographical setting Robert N. Taaffe; 3. Inner Asia at the dawn of history A. P. Okladnikov; 4. The Scythians and Sarmatians A. I. Melyukvoa; 5. The Hsiung-nu Ying-Shih Yu; 6. Indo-Europeans in Inner Asia A. K. Narain; 7. The Hun period Denis Sinor; 8. The Avars Samuel Szadeczky-Kardoss; 9. The peoples of the Russian forest belt Peter B. Golden; 10. The peoples of the south Russian steppes Peter B. Golden; 11. The establishment and dissolution of the Turk empire Denis Sinor; 12. The Uighars Colin Mackerras; 13. The Karakhanids and early Islam Peter B. Golden; 14. Early and medieval Tibet Helmut Hoffman; 15. The forest peoples of Manchuria: Kitans and Jurchens Herbert Franke; Bibliographies; Index.
