Author : Kenneth H. J. Gardiner
Publisher : Crossing Boundaries Publications
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 277 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (974 download)
Book Synopsis Eastern Silk and Western Gold by : Kenneth H. J. Gardiner
Download or read book Eastern Silk and Western Gold written by Kenneth H. J. Gardiner and published by Crossing Boundaries Publications. This book was released on 2021-07-17 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This posthumously published work by Dr Ken Gardiner who taught ancient and early medieval Chinese history at the Australian National University for nearly three decades, is a fascinating account of relations between Qin and Han dynasties China and various states in the Eurasian Steppe, forged through war and diplomacy. The author's access to a broad range of primary and secondary sources in Classical and modern languages, including Latin, Classical Chinese and Japanese and cross-disciplinary approach, combing history, archaeology, philosophy, mythology, art, literature and philology, has enabled him to examine the complex integratory processes, unleashed by early East-West contacts, with extraordinary sophistication. Some of the topics that this book analyses and addresses are: image of central Asian peoples in Chinese myths and legends; role of Zhang Qian, envoy of Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141-87 BCE) to Central Asian states, in expanding the frontier of Chinese knowledge about the Western region; penetration of Han China into the oasis kingdoms of the Tarim basin, and further west to Parthia and Mesopotamia, in search of the celebrated "blood-sweating horses," grapes and even slaves; and Han China's domination of central Asia through its frontier policy of 'divide et impera,' disintegration of Xiongnu Confederation and military campaign against Shanyu Zhizhi in 36 BCE.