The greatest conquest in history Genghis Khan left an empire more than twice the size of Alexander's: his successors went on to conquer and govern an area stretching from Korea to the River Danube. How did a band of nomadic herdsmen achieve so much, so fast? Despite these stunning achievements, many writers dismiss the Mongols as just ferocious barbarians. This bestselling book sets the record straight. The epic starts in 1206 - when Genghis became...

Embark on an epic journey through the windswept expanses of Central Asia with "The Mongol Empire," a gripping chronicle that unveils the awe-inspiring rise and far-reaching legacy of the Mongol Empire. Immerse yourself in the tumultuous world of Genghis Khan and his descendants as they forged an empire that stretched from the Pacific to the Mediterranean, leaving an indelible mark on the course of world history. In this meticulously researched and...

The geopolitical environment surrounding Central Asia and the Caucasus has changed dramatically over the past decade, with important implications for American and European interests. Regional and great powers have accorded the region ever greater attention, and the regional states themselves have developed a greater agency in responding to the geopolitical challenges confronting them. European, and in particular American, perceptions of the region...

In the tradition of The Prize, Lutz Kleveman gives us the twenty-first-century chapter on the history, passion, and politics of oil and gas resources, and the struggle to control them in a critical part of the world. Using the concept of the "Great Game" that Rudyard Kipling immortalized in his novel Kim, Kleveman argues that there is now a new Great Game in the region, a modern variant of the nineteenth-century clash of imperial ambitions of Great...

This book tells the story of the Mughal Empire, which lasted from 1526 to 1857. The early Mughals, who were ethnic Turco-Mongol and descendants of Timur, or Tamerlane, came from Central Asia. They introduced many aspects of Persian culture into India, for example literature, painting and architecture. The Taj Mahal is a surviving example of the particular Indo-Islamic style of Mughals architecture.Under the first six Emperors, the Mughals experienced...

"Winner of the 2009 PROSE Award in World History & Biography/Autobiography, Association of American Publishers" Christopher I. Beckwith is professor of Central Eurasian studies at Indiana University. His other books include The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia (Princeton). An epic account of the rise and fall of the Silk Road empires The first complete history of Central Eurasia from ancient times to the present day, Empires of the Silk Road represents...

The New York Times bestselling account of a thirty-six-day walk across Afghanistan, shortly after the fall of the Taliban: "stupendous . . . an instant travel classic" (Entertainment Weekly).
In January 2002, Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan, surviving by his wits, the kindness of strangers, and his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs. By day he passed through mountains covered in nine feet of snow, hamlets...

Explore the history of ancient Malaysian civilizations as a fascinating journey that takes back thousands of years, unveiling the diverse cultures and influences that shaped the region. Malaysia's strategic location at the crossroads of trade routes made it a melting pot of different civilizations, and its early inhabitants were quick to capitalize on the maritime resources that surrounded them.

For most of its history, Central Asia has been ruled by powerful dynasties, fallen under the vassalage of neighbouring empires or been invaded by foreign powers. Only the more remote, inaccessible tribal areas have maintained a degree of independence. However, since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, five distinct independent nation states have emerged that are now generally referred to as 'Central Asia', namely Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,...

The current conventional Harappan and Indo-European timelines are impossible. Believing in them means endorsing the idea the Harappan, arguably the largest civilization of the Bronze Age lagged thousand years technically behind the minor nations that surrounded them. Likewise, it means their major trading partners, the Sumerians, Elamites, and Akkadians were all technology backwards, compared to the minor nations of India, Central Asia, and even the...