Central Asia : Pre-Historic to Pre-Modern Times (2 Vols-Set)

Contents: Vol. I: Introduction. Preface. I. The primitive community system and its decline on the territory of Central Asia: 1. The primitive communities in Central Asia: i. Paleolith pre-tribal society. ii. Mesolith and Neolith age. iii. The Bronze age. iv. Ethnic composition of population of Central Asia in the Bronze Epoch. 2. Eastern Iranian tribes of Central Asia at the Dawn of Early class society (Ninth to Mid-sixth century B.C.): i. Archaeological materials of early iron age metallurgy of iron. 2. Central Asian Society in early iron age. II. The ancestors of the Tajiks in the epoch of development of slave -- owning relations: 3. Central Asia in the State of Achaemenids: i. Political History of Central Asia in 6--beginning of 5 century B.C. ii. Central Asian Society in 5-4 centuries B.C.  Central Asia as part of the Achaemenid State. iii. Central Asia and Iran during the Achaemenid period. 4. Peoples of Central Asia in the struggle against Graeco-Macedonian conquerors: i. Campaign of Alexander of Macedonia in the east. ii. Struggle of the Central Asian peoples against the Graeco-Macedonian forces. 5. Graceo-Bactria and Parthia in 3-2 centuries B.C.: i. Central Asia in the Seleucid State. ii. The Graeco-Bactrian and Parthian State. iii. The internal system, economy and culture of Central Asia in third. 6. Central Asia in the Kushan Period: i. Parthia, Graeo-bactria and the Nomads. Early history of Yueh-Chih. ii. Central Asia in 2-1 centuries B.C. iii. The Kushan Kingdom. iv. Central Asian cities and settlements in Kushan times. v. Economy of Central Asia in the Kushan period agriculture, irrigation. vi. Culture and religion of Kushan Central Asia old relics of written language. 7. Socio-economic system of ancient Central Asia: i. Historiography of the problem of slave-owning socio-economic structure of ancient Central Asia. ii. Contemporary view about the socio-economic system of ancient Central Asia. III. Emergence of Feudal Relations in Central Asia: 8. Tribes and peoples of Central Asia in 4-6 centuries A.D.: i. Political history. ii. Problems of ethnic history. 9. Peoples of Central Asia in 6 beginning of 8 century: i. The main events of political history. ii. Tokharistan in 6 and beginning of 8 century. iii. Sogd in 6-7 centuries. iv. Other regions of Central Asia. v. Socio-economic system : the establishment of feudal relations. Index.

Vol. II: Introduction. I. Central Asia in the period of development and consolidation of the Feudal System: 1. The peoples of Central Asia in the Arab Caliphate: i. The fall of the Sasanid State. ii. The conquest of Maverannahr (The first period). iii. The conquest of Maverannahr by the Arabs (Second period) condition of peoples of Central Asia. iv. Consequences of the incorporation of Central Asia in the Arab Caliphate. v. Role of Central Asian Peoples in the struggle between the Omeiyads and the Abbasids. 2. Completion of the process of formation of the Tajik people and its statehood: the states of Takhirids, Saffarids and Samanids (9-10 centuries): i. Political history of 9 - 10 centuries. ii. Economy, material culture and socio-economic relations agriculture. iii. Science and literature in the 9-10 centuries. 3. The Tajik people 11-early 13 c. State of the Gaznavids, Karakhanids, Gaurids and the Khwarezm Shahs: i. Political history. ii. Economy and socio-economic relations. iii. Culture in the 11 - 13 centuries. 4. Tajik people in the Chengezid State: i. The Mongol conquest. ii. Socio-economic relations in Central Asia under the Mongols. iii. The culture of the peoples of Central Asia during the Mongol period. 5. Tajik people in the State of Timur and the Timurids: i. Political history, popular movements. ii. The economy, socio-economic relations. iii. Culture. II. Tajik people during the later period of Feudalism in Central Asia: 6. Life of Tajik people in the State of Sheibanids (16 century): i. Political history. ii. Socio-economic relations. iii. The problem of ethno-genesis of the Uzbek people. iv. Material and spiritual culture. 7. Tajik people in the State of Janids (17-first half of 18 century): i. Political history. ii. Socio-economic relations. iii. Material and spiritual culture. Index.

"This work is the English version, published for the first time, of the second edition of the two-volume magnum opus of well-known Soviet Tajik Orientalist B.G. Gafurov, brought out in 1989 from Dushanbe in Russian language. The first Russian edition which was published in 1972 from Moscow was followed by Tajik and Persian (in Arabic script) editions as also in the polish language translated from Russian.

Though titled Tazhiki, Gafurov's work is, in fact, a well-researched comprehensive historical account of the march of the peoples (not just the Tajiks) living on the compact territory of Central Asia from times pre-historic to the threshold of the modern age. Creatively developing upon the foundations laid by outstanding Soviet scholars V.V. Bartold, A.A. Semenov and M.S. Andreev of the 20s and A.Lu.Yakubovskii of the 30s of the previous century, Gafurov's work makes use of a plethora of historical sources of the most varied character to work out on the basis of his own research on Tajik history, as also the researches by a host of Soviet scholars in the post-war period, an inter-disciplinary framework for understanding the history and culture of the closely linked Central Asian peoples bound by age old civilisational ties with India, Iran, Afghanistan, China and Russia.

Some of the problems analysed in the book are level of development of culture and economy of Central Asia, ties with the neighbouring countries the Aryan problem, cultural synthesis between Central Asian, Iranian, Indian and Hellenic cultures, chronology and culture of the Kushans, besides history and culture of Tokharistan and Sogd. The Marxist approach of the author is reflected in his emphasis on issues related to economic development and social transformation and the popular struggles against foreign invaders and indigenous oppressors and tyrants." (jacket)