Author(s): Harmatta, Janos (EDT)
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
PREFACE
CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE(in alphabetical order)
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
INTRODUCTION
ANCIENT IRANIAN NOMADS IN WESTERN CENTRAL ASIA
Literary sources on the ancient Iranian nomads of Central Asia
Society and economy of the Iranian nomads of Central Asia
Culture of the Iranian nomads of Central Asia
MEDIA AND ACHAEMENID IRAN
The immigration of the Median and Persian tribes
Media
The rise of the Persian Empire
The pre-Achaemenid states in Central Asia
The Achaemenid Empire as a world power
The Achaemenid economy
Old Persian inscriptions
State administration
The economy
Iranian culture in the Achaemenid period
Old Iranian religion
ALEXANDER AND HIS SUCCESSORS IN CENTRAL ASIA
ALEXANDER'S CAMPAIGN IN CENTRAL ASIA
Alexander's motivation
Alexander's main task and its result
The murder of Darius
The fall of Aria and Arachosia
The capture of Bessus
Resistance in Bactria and its suppression
The conquest of Transoxania
Alexander's allies from the Indus region
Alexander's route to the Indus
The battle with the Aspasians
Fight with the Assacenians
The capture of Aornos
Alexander and Taxila
Alexander and Porus
Alexander's retreat
Alexander fights his way to the South
Alexander marches back across Baluchistan
Alexander's last days
THE SELEUCIDS IN CENTRAL ASIA
Alexander's death and its aftermath
Mauryas and Central Asia
Political Uphavals
Urbanization and city life
The end of seleucid power in Central Asia
THE GREEK KINGDOMS OF CENTRAL ASIA
Political history
The Indian campaigns
The last phase
Graeco-Bactrian sites
The Greek settlements
Greek and the local language: epigraphic documents
Towns and urbanization
Architecture: the palace at Ay Khanum
The originality of Graeco-Bactrian architecture
Domestic architecture
Religions and religious monuments
Local cults and Buddhist influence
The figurative arts
Everyday implements
Trade and trade routes
Coinage
The Greek heritage in Central Asia
PARTHIA
Parthia and the Seleucids
Mithradates II and his successors
The pattern of decline
The Romans and the Parthians
Successors of Artabanus
Later Roman--Parthian relations
Socio-economic systems
Trade and commerce
Parthian coinage
The Socio-economic fabric
The king and his council
Administration
The fiscal system
Parthianculture
NOMADS IN EASTERN CENTRAL ASIA
Early Mongolia
The Hsiung-nu Empire
The Hsien-pi state
The economy, social structure and state organization of the Hsiung-nu
Hsiung-nu burials and the finds from Noin-Ula
Hsiung-nu customs, religion and culture
Hsien-pi culture
THE YÜEH-CHIH AND THEIR MIGRATIONS
The Yüeh-chih in Gansu
The Yüeh-chih and the Scythians
The Yüeh-chih Empire
The Yüeh-chih and Pazîrîk
The Yüeh-chih and the Detached Scythians
The Yüeh-chih conquest of Bactria
The nomads and Parthia
Archaeological remains of the nomads in northern Bactria
The `dark ages'
THE SAKAS AND INDO-PARTHIANS
The Sakas in India
The Pahlavas in India
The administrative system of the Sakas and Pahlavas
Philhellenism
The monetary system and coinage
Architecture and art
Religious developments
THE CULTURE OF THE XINJIANG REGION
The Xinjiang region
The Xiangbaobao graves, Tashkurgan
The Lou-lan graves at Lop Nor
The pebble graves of Alagou (Turfan County)
The wooden chamber graves at Alagou (Turfan County)
The T'ien Shan settlements
Grave sites on the slopes of the Altai mountains
THE WESTERN REGIONS UNDER THE HSIUNG-NU AND THE HAN
The triangular clash
China and the Western Regions
The economy of the oasis states
Language, culture and religion
Chinese administration
Military and agricultural colonies
The Silk Route
THE KUSHANS
The Early Kushans
The date of Kanishka
The Great Kushans
Relations with Iran
Relations with China
Relations with Rome
Relations with north-eastern India
Relations with the Saka satraps
The Kushan political system
Kushan administration
ECONOMY AND SOCIAL SYSTEM IN CENTRAL ASIA IN THE KUSHAN AGE
Irrigation
Crop-raising and livestock-breeding
Handicrafts and building
The coinage and monetary system
Trade and commerce
The Silk Route
Social structure
Land-ownership
CITIES AND URBAN LIFE IN THE KUSHAN KINGDOM
The development of urban patterns
City life in the Kushan period
City planning
Royal palaces and community walls
Bazaars and dwelling-houses
City administration
Craftsmen and guilds
Trade and commerce
RELIGIONS IN THE KUSHAN EMPIRE
Religious life in Bactria before the Kushan conquest
The ancient religion of the Sakas and Kushans
The epoch of the Kushan yabghus
Religious life under Vima Kadphises
The religious policy of Kanishka I
Religious life under the `triple' kingship
New trends in the second phase of Huvishka
Syncretism and absorption
KUSHAN ART
Kushan art in the north
Kushan art in Bactria
Kushan art in Nagarahara and Arachosia
Kushan art of Gandhara
Kushan art in Mathura
LANGUAGES AND SCRIPTS IN GRAECO-BACTRIA AND THE SAKA KINGDOMS
Old Persian, Imperial Aramaic, Old Bactrian
The survival of Aramaic
The language of ancient Bactria
Greek language and script in Central Asia
The language of the Southern Sakas
LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE IN THE KUSHAN EMPIRE
An unknown language in an unknown script
The Bactrian language in Greek script
Sanskrit and Prakrit
Sogdian
STATES IN NORTH-WESTERN CENTRAL ASIA
The transition to sedentary culture
Ethnic history
Irrigation and agriculture
Mining and manufacture
The development of cities and urbanization
Development in Ferghana
Subsequent developments
THE NOMADS OF NORTHERN CENTRAL ASIA AFTER THE INVANSION OF ALEXANDER
Transoxania
The Wu-sun
The K'ang-chü
The Yen-ts'ai, Aorsi and Siraci
The Alans
The Hsiung-nu (Hunni, Huns)
The Yüeh-pan
Later history
THE RISE OF SASANIAN IRAN
The decline of Parthia
The new Sasanian dynasty
The campaigns of Shapur I
Kushanshahr
Margiana
Bactria and the Silk Route
CONCLUSION
MAPS
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
INDEX
History of civilizations of Central Asia
