The heart of Asia

A chronological survey of Central Asia that traces its development from antiquity through medieval and early modern eras, describing successive Iranian, Hellenistic, Turkic, Arab-Islamic, Mongol, and Timurid phases and the emergence and decline of regional khanates. The narrative then turns to Russian penetration and conquest, detailing military and diplomatic encounters with local powers, the role of railways and forts, and administrative changes accompanying incorporation. Interwoven accounts of social life, urban institutions, religious practices, and economic transformations are supported by sketches, photographs, and maps that illustrate landscapes, cities, and the peoples of the region.