A History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, Vol. 1: Inner Eurasia from Prehistory to the Mongol Empire [Paperback]

David Christian (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631208143 | ISBN-13: 978-0631208143 | Publication Date: December 24, 1998 | Edition: 1

This is a history of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia from the time of the first inhabitants of the region up to the break up of the Mongol Empire in 1260AD.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Overall, this is an excellent book. It is rich in detail and has a good blend between description and history. It is everywhere fair and balanced in its interpretations. It is well written and well produced with good illustrations, maps, a useful chronology which divides the region into west, centre and east, and an excellent and extensive, albeit overwhelmingly English-language bibliography. Perhaps most important of all, although the histories of the various areas of concern to this book are reasonably well trodden paths, it crafts a new interpretation by taking up a distinct area of focus - inner Eurasia - and succeeds admirably in convincing the reader of the significance and interest of that region's history. I strongly recommend the book." Asian Ethnicity Journal

"Well-written, impressive and bold synthesis ... One looks forward eagerly to volume 2." The Russian Review

"Big picture history requires energy, openness and risk taking, a willingness to escape from the well-worn grooves of academe ... Christian has effected a great escape." Journal of Asian Studies

From the Back Cover

This is a history of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia from the time of the first inhabitants of the region up to the break up of the Mongol Empire in 1260 AD. Inner Eurasia, as the author defines it, comprises most of the former Soviet Union and Russia's huge territories in Siberia; Russia's former empire in Central Asia; China's central Asian empire; and Mongolia, both the parts within China and those within the Mongolian People's Republic. The author presents Inner Eurasia as a coherent region with an underlying unity in geography and history despite its cultural and ecological variety.

This volume, the first of two surveying this region, charts developments from the Old Stone Age, through changes under such peoples as the Scythians, the Huns and the Turks, to the emergence of an identifiable "Rus" - the society from which modern Russia and Ukraine have evolved. The book sets political events in the broadest context of social and economic change, linking evolution to the vast geography of the territories it describes. Together with volume II covering the period up to the present, the work represents the most thorough, up-to-date study of this fascinating and much misunderstood region of the world.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (December 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631208143
• ISBN-13: 978-0631208143
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > History > Asia > Mongolia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A waste of paper, time and money, March 11, 2001

By 

Mark E. Hall (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, Vol. 1: Inner Eurasia from Prehistory to the Mongol Empire (Paperback)

As an archaeologist working on the archaeology of North East Asia, I found this book a very big disappointment. Then again what should I expect from a historian whose speciality is the 18th and 19th century history of Russia?

The author draws heavily on secondary works in English, German, French and Russian. Instead of depending on those, he should have gone directly to the archaeological site reports and the historical annals themselves. Its also sad to see a synthesis on Russia and Central Asia that relies heavily on the works of English language scholars and ignoring the Russian and Mongolian language scholars. In terms of some of his English secondary sources, ones like Davis-Kimball et al. (NOMADS OF THE EURASIAN STEPPE) and Barfield's PERILOUS FRONTIER are still in print and available from AMAZON.COM.

Production values in this book are also uneven. The photographic reproductions in many cases are also poorly scanned copies (see for example p. 53, 214 in the paperback version). The publisher should have done a better job.

My advice: you can do a lot better (try the two suggestions above)

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong overall, June 13, 2001

By 

J. D. Como "jakoye" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, Vol. 1: Inner Eurasia from Prehistory to the Mongol Empire (Paperback)

This book is the only book to deal with the lands in question (Inner Asia) so thoroughly. I feel as if a large gap in my knowledge of history has been at least partially filled (there is always more to learn). Not that I'm without my complaints: the maps are few and far in between, the photographs poorly done. Sometimes, the book was downright boring, but that's to be expected with such an extensive book.

If you want to learn about the dynamic relationship between argricultural civilizations and pastoralist civilizations, read this book. It does leave some questions unanswered though. Such as, why did new tribes replace old tribes (ex: the Goths in Hungary, being pushed out by the Huns, who were pushed out by the Magyars)? What were the relative populations of the time? What was the relative demand for the goods of the steepe peoples? What was the trade balance between steppe and agricultural peoples?

Despite the questions, the book was worth the read.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a well written and researched fascinating book, November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, Vol. 1: Inner Eurasia from Prehistory to the Mongol Empire (Hardcover)

this is an excellent book for all people interested ine the early tribes of China and Inner Mongolia. It is very well written and researched.The book is very informative for both the novice and also the well read on this subject. The author shares his extensive knowledge in an easy to read and certainly keeps the reader fascinated.