Eurasian Empires in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages

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

Studies the history, literature and archaeology of the great empires of the vast Eurasian continent from a comparative, interdisciplinary and, in particular, a Eurasian perspective. It highlights the critical role of Inner Asian empires and peoples in facilitating contacts and exchanges across Eurasia in the ancient and early medieval worlds.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.