Central Asian History

This accessible introduction to Inner Asia traces its history from the arrival of Islam, through the various dynasties to the Russian conquest. The contemporary focus rests on the seven countries that make up present-day Eurasia: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Sinkiang and Mongolia. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, renewed interest in these countries has prompted considerable debate. While a divergent literature has evolved, no comprehensive survey of the region exists. This book will fill the gap and become indispensable for anyone studying or visiting the area.

Military developments in Inner Asia lay at the basis of the rise of a number of Ancient and Early Modern Empires. This is the first scholarly work to embrace Inner Asian military history across a broad spatial and chronological spectrum, from the Turks and Uighurs to the Pechenegs, and from the Mongol invasion of Syria to the Manchu conquest of China. Based on previously unknown and until now underestimated sources, the contributors to this volume explore the context, development, and characteristic features of Inner Asian warfare, making original contributions to our understanding of Asian and world history.

"An important addition to the literature on the subject & of interest to specialists as well as general readers. Drawing on lifelong study & personal knowledge of the people & the area, Gleason gives a comprehensive, up-to-date, & well-documented treatment of the new states. A sober assessment of the region's legacies & the current nation-building problems faced by Central Asian leaders in a new international environment." Teresa Rakowska-Harmstone Harvard University

A noted expert in Eurasian studies examines the nationalist, ethnic, and pro-independence movements in and among the new Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union.

This collection of writings is a comparison of political change, leadership style and stability in Central Asia. It comprises case studies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

The five central Asian States of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan stand at the crossroads of world civilization. Influenced by South Asia, Iran, China and Russia, this region which has recently burst onto the world stage once again, guards a distinct identity. This collection by established experts on the area covers the dramatic Soviet interventions of the early 20th century, and details the role of ethnicity and the contribution made by Islamic impulses in the process of building the modern nation states.

Whereas in previous studies scholars have evaluated Central Asian politics from the perspective of their own political values, in this study, Central Asian political order is studied in its own terms by analyzing its perseverance and discontinuities with regard to its involvement with Central Asian community structures.

Peiman examines the failure of the eight countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia to address their economic problems since independence has created grounds for the outbreak of violent intra- and inter-state conflicts in their regions. Such conflicts could escalate to regional wars, which could drag in Iran, Turkey, Russia, China, and the United States, with implications for regional and international security.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and its totalitarian system has resulted in instability and conflict among its many ethnic groups. In this volume, a distinguished group of scholars from the Russian Center for Strategic Research and International Studies examines the ethnic conflicts roiling Central Asia and Transcaucasia today--the roots and dynamics of these conflicts, their possible consequences, and the possibilities for resolution. The analyses are based upon extensive field studies, interviews, local press accounts, and other sources unavailable in the West. The work presents an inside view of the conflicts, describes the forces involved, and provides a prognosis for future developments in the region.

This book is a pioneering study which presents carefully researched data on the some 55 milion Turkish-speaking peoples of the former Soviet Union and Central Asia. The historical background of and the recent developments in Central Asia and the Trans-Caucasus are presented in detail. Hostler's conclusions emphasize the present instability and the potential strategic and economic importance of Central Asia as well as the competing roles of Turkey, Iran, Russia, and other countries.