The history of Central AsiaChristoph Baumer.

Includes bibliographies and index.

Series overview: This sumptuously illustrated history of one of the most compelling and mysterious regions on earth is a unique travelogue and resource for scholars and students of antiquity, history, archaeology and religious studies. The epic plains and arid deserts of Central Asia have witnessed some of the greatest migrations, as well as many of the most transformative developments, in the history of civilization. Noted authority on Central Asia, Doctor Christoph Baumer's ambitious four-volume treatment of the region charts the 3000-year drama of Scythians and Sarmatians; Soviets and transcontinental Silk Roads; trade routes and the transmission of ideas across the steppes; and, the breathless and brutal conquests of Alexander the Great and Chinghiz Khan. Masterfully interweaving the stories of individuals and people, the author's engaging prose is richly augmented throughout by colour photographs taken on his own travels. Volume 1 focuses on the geography of the area now occupied by present-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, northern Afghanistan, western and central Mongolia and parts of southern Russia and northern China. Discussing the changing climates of the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages, the author explores subjects as diverse as glacial retreat; the invention of the wheel; the legendary Cimmerians and Amazons; Hellenism and Zoroastrianism; and, the Oxus Treasure. Future volumes will explore the later historical periods of the region.

Between the ninth and the fifteenth centuries, Central Asia was a major political, economic and cultural hub on the Eurasian continent. In the first half of the thirteenth century it was also the pre-eminent centre of power in the largest land-based empire the world has ever seen. This third volume of Christoph Baumer's extensively praised and lavishly illustrated new history of the region is above all a story of invasion, when tumultuous and often brutal conquest profoundly shaped the later history of the globe. The author explores the rise of Islam and the remarkable victories of the Arab armies which - inspired by their vital, austere and egalitarian desert faith - established important new dynasties like the Seljuks, Karakhanids and Ghaznavids. A golden age of artistic, literary and scientific innovation came to a sudden end when, between 1219 and 1260, Genghiz Khan and his successors overran the Chorasmian-Abbasid lands. Dr Baumer shows that the Mongol conquests, while shattering to their enemies, nevertheless resulted in much greater mercantile and cultural contact between Central Asia and Western Europe.

Volume 3. Iranian-Muslim dynasties in South-West Central Asia -- Central Asian pioneers of Islamic philosophy and sciences -- The second Turkic migrations to the West -- Turco-Muslim dynasties in Southern Central Asia -- Buddhist states of the Liao, Qara Khitai and Tanguts -- The rise of the Mongols -- The united Mongol Empire -- The Independent Mongol Khanates -- Timur-e Lang and the Timurids -- Outlook -- Appendices. A. The most important denominations of Islam and early Muslim dynasties outside Central Asia -- B. The most important dynasties of Central Asia from the ninth to the early sixteenth centuries.

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