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The History of Central Asia: The Age of Decline and Revival (Volume 4)
£28.50
For more than a hundred years, Central Asia was the heartland of the mightiest military power on the planet. But after the fragmentation of the all-conquering Mongol polity, the region began a steep decline which rendered this former domain of horse lords peripheral to world affairs. The process of deterioration reached its nadir in the second half of the nineteenth century, when the former territories and sweeping steppes of the great khans were overrun by Tsarist Russia. In the concluding volume of his acclaimed Central Asia quartet, Christoph Baumer shows how China in the east, and Russia in the northwest, succeeded in throwing off the Mongol yoke to become the masters of their own previous rulers. He suggests that, as traditional transcontinental trade routes declined in importance, it was the `Great Game’ – or cold war between Imperial Russia and Great Britain – which finally brought Central Asia back into play as a region of strategic importance. This epic history concludes with an assessment of the transition to modern independence of the Central Asian states and their struggle to contain radical Islamism.
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by Herodotus
A magnificent series. If only someone would write a history of China like this.
by Dr Barry Clayton
With this book Baumer completes his magnificent four volume history. It is a gorgeous, magisterial book that surveys the last five hundred years. Ten modern states that sprang from the empire of Genghis Khan feature in it. It opens with his descendants.
The author writes about the consequences of the great game in both the region and the world in general. There was a good deal of fake news about attvthe time. For example, it led to Younghusband’s invasion of Tibet in 1903 on the grounds that Russia was about to take over. She wasn’t. To examine the regio, which is difficult to define, Baumer includes India, and Japan as well as Russia.
to my knowledge no other account has covered such a vast range of regions and events. The author’s skill and research is outstanding. The illustrations are simply magnificent. This splendid book is a wonderful guide for all interested in the region.
by arcobaleno
Good timing for deliverance but the item was damiged
by Lindy U
Beautiful book
by Adrian
Final volume of an excellent series describing a world most of us no little about. I read this before and after a holiday in Uzbekistan. Too big to carry on holiday it was an excellent source of information back home.
by Simon
A superb final volume and as with the first three volumes, superb photographs bring the subject matter to life. Even if you don’t want to read the text, the volumes are worth buying just for the images.
by Brian Gable
Beautifully produced books which will keep me occupied for some months
by Amazon Customer
Four fantastic volumes !