

Summary :
Based on archaeological discoveries, this volume
traces the history of humanity in this vast region from
the Palaeolithic beginnings to circa 700 BC preceding
the foundation of the great Achaemenid Empire. The Stone
Age with the beginning of food production, the great
civilizations of the Bronze Age with the early process
of urbanization from the Indus to the Oxus and the Iron
Age are thoroughly studied. No less important a place is
given to the history of nomadic pastoral tribes, such as
those of the Indo-Iranians.
|
Table of Contents

Table
of Contents
Description of the project
Mohammad S. Asimov,
President, International Scientific Committee
Members of the International
Scientific Committee
List of
contributors
Introduction
A.H. Dani and
V.M. Masson
Chapter 1
The environment
V.M. Masson
Chapter 2
Lower Palaeolithic cultures
V.A. Ranov,
D. Dorj and
Lü Zun-E
Chapter 3
Middle Palaeolithic culture
Bridget Allchin
Chapter 4
Upper Palaeolithic cultures
A.P. Derevyanko and
Lü Zun-E
Chapter 5
Food-producing and other Neolithic communities in
Khorasan and Transoxania: eastern Iran, Soviet Central Asia and
Afghanistan
V. Sarianidi
Chapter 6
Food-producing communities in Pakistan and northern
India
M. Sharif and
B.K. Thapar
Chapter 7
Neolithic communities in eastern parts of Central Asia
An Zhimin
Chapter 8
Neolithic tribes in northern parts of Central Asia
AP Derevyanko and D. Dorj
Chapter 9
The Bronze Age in Iran and Afghanistan
M. Tosi,
S. Malek Shahmirzadi
and M. Joyenda
Chapter 10
The Bronze Age in Khorasan and Transoxania
V.M. Masson
Chapter 11
Pre-Indus and early Indus cultures of Pakistan and
India J.G.
Shaffer
and B.K. Thapar
Chapter 12
The Indus Civilization
A.H. Dani and
B.K. Thapar
Chapter 13
The Bronze Age in eastern parts of central Asia
An Zhimin
Chapter 14
The decline of the Bronze Age civilization and movements
of the tribes
V.M. Masson
Chapter 15
The emergence of the Indo-Iranians: the Indo-Iranian
languages
J. Harmatta
Chapter 16
Pastoral tribes of the Bronze Age in the Oxus Valley
(Bactria)
B.A. Litvinsky and
L.T. P’yankova
Chapter 17
Pastoral-agricultural tribes of Pakistan in the
post-Indus period
A.H. Dani
Chapter 18
The Painted Grey Ware Culture of the Iron Age
B.B. Lal
Chapter 19
The beginning of the Iron Age in Transoxania
A. Askarov
Chapter 20
Pastoral and nomadic tribes at the beginning of the
first millennium BC
A. Askarov,
V. Volkov and
N. Ser-Odjav
Conclusion
The Editors
Appendix: A note on the meaning of the term «Central Asia» as
used in this book
L.I. Miroshnikov
Bibliography and References
Index
|