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The History of Central Asia: The Age of Islam and the Mongols (Volume 3)
£28.50
Between the ninth and the fifteenth centuries, Central Asia was a major political, economic and cultural hub on the Eurasian continent. In the first half of the thirteenth century it was also the pre-eminent centre of power in the largest land-based empire the world has ever seen. This third volume of Christoph Baumer’s extensively praised and lavishly illustrated new history of the region is above all a story of invasion, when tumultuous and often brutal conquest profoundly shaped the later history of the globe. The author explores the rise of Islam and the remarkable victories of the Arab armies which – inspired by their vital, austere and egalitarian desert faith – established important new dynasties like the Seljuks, Karakhanids and Ghaznavids. A golden age of artistic, literary and scientific innovation came to a sudden end when, between 1219 and 1260, Genghiz Khan and his successors overran the Chorasmian-Abbasid lands. Dr Baumer shows that the Mongol conquests, while shattering to their enemies, nevertheless resulted in much greater mercantile and cultural contact between Central Asia and Western Europe.
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by Ross
This is a “Brilliant read”, this volume covers the Middle ages and the times of the Turks and Mongols as they charge across the pages of history. The research, text and wonderful photos and description bring the who era alive. The author tells the story of the rich history, religion and the culture that was purely Islamic but was seriously damaged by the reign of terror that the Mongols at first inflicted on the whole of the Central Asia. There is so much to learn from this volume as you travel through the years of the various kingdoms and empires that rise and fall over the centuries that this volume covers.
by Jeremy F.
Excellent book , very interesting .
by Amazon Customer
Number 3 in an incredible series. Beautiful photos. I real bargain!
by Lindy U
Thank-you
by mun-keat phoong
very good.
by Adrian
Penultimate volume of an excellent series. A tale of a deeply brutalised part of the world that has been more trampled over than most but told with great assurance. I read this before and after a holiday in Uzbekistan. It proved an excellent guide.
by Rob Roy
All is well
by Fortifimplications
I have recently received this, the third volume of The History of Central Asia. The author has succeeded in a remarkable task by connecting the history and culture of the vast region. Thanks to the dedication of Dr. Baumer we can understand how the cultures of the central part of this continent once interacted. The success of the the three books has been achieved by the author’s immense efforts in ‘going there’. His maps and photos add a valuable dimension to his narrative. I’m already looking forward to the fourth and concluding volume of this amazing series.