Asia, Central--Civilization--Exhibitions
"The legendary Silk Road existed long before the birth of Christ. It was not a single highway but a great web of trade routes. Until the 15th century the Silk Road was the largest trading network in the world, extending from China to the Mediterranean. Travellers had to cross dangerous mountain passes and inhospitable deserts, although they could break their journeys in fertile oases and prosperous small kingdoms. It was here that trade was conducted. And art flourished. In connecting major civilisations, such as India, Persia, China and the Roman Empire, the Silk Road engendered unprecedented cultural exchange. This book presents the rare beauty of finds from vanished cities: wall paintings, Buddhas and precious artefacts of silk, silver, glass, gold and terracotta. All recovered during Russian archaeological expeditions in the 19th and 20th centuries. By explorers who trod in the footsteps of kings, merchants and Buddhist monks. Now readers can tread in the footsteps of these archaeological pioneers and follow the same trade routes to the West. On a journey through a world of unexpected and unbelievably splendid treasures"--Page [4] of cover.
Journey to the West : treasures from the Hermitage
Foreword: From China to the Hermitage / Mikhail Piotrovsky -- Foreword: The fascinating story of the Silk Road / Cathelijn Broers -- ESSAYS: A journey to the West: an introduction / Pavel Lurje, Kira Samosyuk -- A summary history of Central Asia: from the formation of states to the Mongol conquest / Pavel Lurje, Andrey Omelchenko, Kira Samosyuk -- Exploration of the Silk Road. Pilgrims and preachers on the Silk Road: from the 1st to 14th centuries / Kira Samosyuk ; European expeditions to East Turkestan: in the 19th and early 20th centuries / Kira Samosyuk ; Archaeological investigation in Middle Asia: ideology and learning / Pavel Lurje -- Trade along the great Silk Road. The routes along the Silk Road / Anna Ierusalimskaya ; Pavel Lurje ; Exchange along the Silk Road / Pavel Lurje ; Silk on the Silk Road / Maria Menshikova ; The roads travelled by Middle Asian silver / Asan Torgoev -- Cultural contacts on the Silk Road. Buddhism / Evgeny Kiy ; Other religions on the Silk Road / Pavel Lurje ; Languages, writing and literature / Pavel Lurje -- The arts along the Silk Road. The art of East Turkestan / Kira Samosyuk ; The art of Sogdiana: monumental painting from Panjakent / Larisa Kulakova -- CATALOGUE: The Noin-Ula burial mounds in Northern Mongolia / Julia Elikhina -- Khara-Khoto / Kira Samosyuk -- The Magao Caves near Dunhuang / Maria Menshikova -- Turfan / Nikolay Pchelin -- Karashahr / Evgeny Kiy -- Kucha / Kira Samosyuk -- Khotan / Julia Elikhina -- Ustrushana / Nikita Semyonov -- Sogdiana / Pavel Lurje -- Bactria / Andrey Omelchenko -- Chorasmia / Pavel Lurje -- Parthia / Alexander Nikitin -- Early Medieval burial grounds in the North Caucasus / Anna Ierusalimskaya -- Numismatics.