Why read Eurasian Crossroads?

Book cover of Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang

Book description

Since antiquity, the vast Central Eurasian region of Xinjiang, or Eastern Turkestan, has stood at the crossroads of China, India, the Middle East, and Europe, playing a pivotal role in the social, cultural, and political histories of Asia and the world. Today, it comprises one-sixth of the territory of the…

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Asian history

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Eurasian Crossroads as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Grayson Slover

Author

Eurasian Crossroads is an essential resource for anyone seeking to learn about the complex historical context of the genocide taking place in Xinjiang today. James Millward, who is widely regarded as the leading historian of Chinese Central Asia, provides an accessible-yet-thorough examination of the various peoples and empires that have called the region home.

From Grayson's list on The best books on the Uyghur Genocide.

Nick Holdstock

Author

Millward’s book should be the starting point for anyone seeking to understand the complex history of the region, not least how this part of Central Asia, which has been home to so many peoples, and part of so many different empires, ended up within the People’s Republic of China. Its rich, nuanced account doesn’t shy from the challenge of presenting the encounters between many different cultures, languages, and identities, encounters that resulted in both violence and accommodation. Written in lively, readable prose, and with a keen sensitivity to both the ironies and tragedies of the region’s history, the book offers…

From Nick's list on The best books on the concentration camps in Xinjiang.