Civilization History of Central Asia -- Volume 2

Author: (Hungary) Halimat, edited by Xu Wenkan, translated by
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: The multi-volume History of Central Asian Civilization is the first attempt to comprehensively describe this significant topic. The publication of this series of historical works fully aligns with the purpose of UNESCO. An international expert group from the organization has collaborated for many years, conducting foundational research to introduce the historical facts of the civilization in this vast region at the heart of Eurasia to a broader audience. The six-volume History of Central Asian Civilization will reveal the rise and fall of various cultures in Central Asia from the beginning of civilization to the present day. Only a few place names in this region, such as Samarkand, Bukhara, or Khiva, are familiar to the public. Today, some renowned experts (many of whom are local) unveil the curtain through this book, revealing the richer and more diverse aspects of Central Asian civilization. On a broader scale, the ancient and medieval history of the world was shaped by the migrations of peoples in the heartland of Eurasia, extending from the western Black Sea to the eastern borders of China. Volume 2 of the History of Central Asian Civilization discusses the various population movements and cultural interactions in Central Asia from 700 BCE to 250 CE. During this period, several nomadic and settled civilizations emerged, with some living in grassland areas and others in oases. The differences between them intensified with the rise of the Achaemenid Empire. Alexander the Great's invasion changed the scene. Nomadic peoples were driven back, settled civilizations were strengthened and quickly took the lead. With the rise of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, Central Asian civilization underwent fundamental changes due to the gradual blending of Zoroastrianism, Greek religion, and Buddhism, laying the foundation for the civilization before the Arab conquest. In the first century BCE, the Saka people established a series of kingdoms in eastern Iran and western India; by the first century CE, these territories were unified under the rule of the Parthians, whose empire stretched from Sistan to the Indus River and then across it. Meanwhile, the Kushan Empire rose, overthrowing the Parthian rule and annexing their Indian provinces. The Silk Road between the Mediterranean and China brought prosperity to Central Asia through trade. Although sea routes were opened, the international route traversed by Bactrian camel caravans remained in use for several centuries. It was not until around 234 CE that the Kushan Empire encountered a new powerful enemy—the Sasanian Iran—and eventually collapsed.