Eurasian Empires in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages
Contact and Exchange between the Graeco-Roman World, Inner Asia and China

A comparative and interdisciplinary study of ancient and medieval Eurasian empires using historical, philological and archaeological evidence.

Hyun Jin Kim (Edited by), Frederik Juliaan Vervaet (Edited by), Selim Ferruh Adali (Edited by)

9781316638804, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 January 2020

349 pages, 20 b/w illus. 6 maps 6 tables
17 x 24.5 x 2 cm, 0.62 kg

The great empires of the vast Eurasian continent have captured the imagination of many. Awe-inspiring names such as ancient Rome, Han and Tang China, Persia, Assyria, the Huns, the Kushans and the Franks have been the subject of countless scholarly books and works of literature. However, very rarely, if at all, have these vast pre-industrial empires been studied holistically from a comparative, interdisciplinary and above all Eurasian perspective. This collection of studies examines the history, literature and archaeology of these empires and others thus far treated separately as a single inter-connected subject of inquiry. It highlights in particular the critical role of Inner Asian empires and peoples in facilitating contacts and exchange across the Eurasian continent in antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

Introduction Hyun Jin Kim and Frederik Vervaet
Part I. Political Organization and Interactions of Eurasian Empires: 1. The political organization of Steppe empires and their contribution to Eurasian interconnectivity: the case of the Huns and their impact on the Frankish West Hyun Jin Kim
2. Tang China's horse power: the borderland breeding ranch system Jonathan Skaff
3. Cimmerians and the scythians: the impact of nomadic powers on the Assyrian Empire and the ancient Near East Selim Ferruh Adal?
Part II. Socio-Institutional Aspects of Eurasian Empires: 4. Honour and shame in the Roman Republic Frederik Juliaan Vervaet
5. Honor and shame in Han China Mark Lewis
6. Slavery and forced labor in early China and the Roman world Walter Scheidel
Part III. Cultural Legacies of Eurasian Empires: 7. Homer and the Shi Jing as imperial texts Alexander Beecroft
8. The serpent from Persia – Manichaeism in Rome and China Samuel Lieu
Part IV. Archaeology of Eurasian Empires: 9. The Alans in the Southern Caucasus? Antonio Sagona, Claudia Sagona and Aleks Michalewicz
10. Greeks, Scythians, Parthians and Kushans in Central Asia and India Osmund Bopearachchi
11. Enclosure sites, non-nucleated settlement strategies and political capitals in ancient Eurasia Michelle Negus Cleary
Conclusion Hyun Jin Kim, Frederik Juliaan Vervaet and Selim Ferruh Adal?.

Subject Areas: Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Middle Eastern history [HBJF1], Asian history [HBJF]