From Genghis Khan to the Taliban: War and Peace in Central Asia

3 units

From romantic invocations of the Silk Road and isolated nomads to medieval barbarisms of the Taliban, Western media and popular culture often portray Central Asia as a region out of step with time. However, Central Asia has long been a center for culture, innovation, and political power, and it has a history that is hard to reconcile with popular images of a place stuck in the past. This course, which is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, traces the transformation of Central Asia from Genghis Khan's 13th-century conquests to the present, covering the territories of former Soviet Central Asia, Western China (Xinjiang), and Afghanistan. Although the course covers nearly 1000 years, the primary emphasis is on the imperial schemes and transformations of the past 300 years. All readings will be in English, and no prior knowledge in Central Asian history is expected or required.