History of Civilizations of Central Asia : The Crossroads of Civilization: A.D. 250 to 750

Description

PREFACE CONTENTS DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (in alphabetical order) MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (since 1993) MEMBERS OF THE READING COMMITTEE LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Other collaborating specialists HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION The Sasanians The Guptas The Sui dynasty The T'ang dynasty Oasis states Ecology, geography and climate Nomadic societies The Hsiung-nu and the Huns The Silk Route Cross-cultural influences SASANIAN IRAN -- ECONOMY, SOCIETY, ARTS AND CRAFTS POLITICAL HISTORY, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY Struggles against the northern nomads The Sasanian administration Royal cities The reforms of Khusrau I The economy Sasanian coins The army, warfare and armaments CUSTOMS, ARTS AND CRAFTS Sasanian cities and fortifications Sasanian court architecture Sasanian religious architecture Sasanian art and crafts SASANIAN IRAN: INTELLECTUAL LIFE Written works Secular literature Royal Res Gestae Religious literature Philosophy and theology Visionary and apocalyptic texts Andarz (wisdom literature) Languages and scripts LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND RELIGION Borrowings and influences Science and philosophy Court chronicles and epic histories Religious life Religion and the law THE KUSHANO-SASANIAN KINGDOM State organization and administration Economy, society and trade Religious life Cities, architecture, art and crafts Languages and scripts THE KIDARITE KINGDOM IN CENTRAL ASIA Origin and rise of the Kidarites Early history of the Kidarites Foundation of the Kidarite state Kidara's conquest of Gandhara and Kashmir The decline of the Kidarites The new conquest of Bactria by the Sasanians (467) Economy, society and polity Monetary system and trade Life-style, culture and ideology THE HEPHTHALITE EMPIRE Origins Political and military history Conquests in Gandhara and northern India The Hephthalites of Central Asia Social structure and administration Religious life and polyandry Language and scripts Towns Architecture Art and crafts EASTERN KUSHANS, KIDARITES IN GANDHARA AND KASHMIR, AND LATER HEPHTHALITES EASTERN KUSHANS AND KIDARITES IN GANDHARA AND KASHMIR Eastern Kushans Kidarites in Gandhara and Kashmir Later Hephthalites Economic and cultural progress Sanskrit references Coinage of the Hunas THE LATER HEPHTHALITES IN CENTRAL ASIA The Khalaj, the successors of the Hephthalites Urban life and art in Tokharistan THE GUPTA KINGDOM Origin and political history of the Guptas Social and economic conditions Administration Religious life Literature Science Art and architecture KHWARIZM HISTORY AND CULTURE OF KHWARIZM Uncertain early history Social structure and administration Art, architecture, religion and language AL-BIRUNI ON KHWARIZM The Khwarizmian calendar Khwarizmianeras Religious beliefs The Arab conquest SOGDIANA SUGHD AND ADJACENT REGIONS Economic, cultural and social life Art and architecture Religious life Scripts, epics and literary sources USTRUSHANA, FERGHANA, CHACH AND ILAK Ustrushana Ferghana Chach and Ilak THE CITY - STATES OF THE TARIM BASIN Geography and climate Peoples and languages Social life and the economy Shan-shan: administrative system Political upheavals Trade Religion KOCHO ( KAO-CH'ANG) The Kocho Prefecture period (327--460) The Kocho kingdom period (460--640) Recently discovered documents at Kocho Administrative System and socio-economic life under the House of Ch'ü The meeting and merging of cultures NORTHERN NOMADS K'ang-chü The Huns The Hsien-pi Nomad kingdoms of northern China The Juan-juan The Türks The T'ieh-le and Kao-chü Archaeological evidence THE TÜRK EMPIRE THE FIRST TÜRK EMPIRE (553--682) Ethnogenesis The economy Political history THE SECOND TÜRK EMPIRE (682--745) Resurgence of the Türk Empire Political and social structure Relations with China The empire in crisis The last war with T'ang China The final decade Epigraphic memorials of the Türks The Türgesh state The Uighurs and the Karluks THE WESTERN REGIONS (HSI-YÜ) UNDER THE T'ANG EMPIRE AND THE KINGDOM OF TIBET Three great empires The Western Regions under the Early T'ang The kingdom of Tibet TOKHARISTAN AND GANDHARA UNDER WESTERN TÜRK RULE (650--750) HISTORY OF THE REGIONS Tokharistan Kapisa-- Gandhara Zabulistan The fight for independence LANGUAGES, LITERATURE, COINAGE, ARCHITECTURE AND ART Ethnic groups and languages Writing systems and literature The provinces and their rule Coinage Cities, architecture and art RELIGIONS AND RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS -- I ZOROASTRIANISM MANICHAEISM RELIGIONS AND RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS -- II CHRISTIANITY, INDIAN AND LOCAL RELIGIONS Christianity Indian religions (except Buddhism) Local religions BUDDHISM Written sources Inscriptions in Buddhist complexes Manuscripts from East Turkestan and Central Asia East Turkestan -- a major Buddhist centre THE ARAB CONQUEST THE ARAB CONQUEST OF IRAN The first Arab invasion of Iran The conquest of Iraq The conquest of Khuzistan The battle of Nihavend The conquest of Seistan The conquest of Khurasan THE ARAB CONQUEST OF TRANSOXANIA The first Arab incursions into Transoxania The beginning of the conquest of Transoxania The struggle of the peoples of Central Asia against the Umayyads The struggle of the peoples of Central Asia against the cAbbasids SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ARAB CONQUEST Reasons for the fall of the Sasanian Empire Relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in the first century A.H. First steps towards Islamization Iranian regional administration in the conquered territories Tabaristan and Dailam Zabul, Kabul, Gandhara and Ghur The Arabs in Sind The survival of pre-Islamic civilization CENTRAL ASIA, THE CROSSROADS OF CIVILIZATIONS MAPS BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES INDEX History of civilizations of Central Asia