The Tarim Basin in Central Asia is, historically speaking, one of the most fascinating places in the world. Located in this huge basin is the Taklamakan Desert, crossed for thousands of years, to the rhythms of camel caravans, by traders of the ancient Silk Road. This area became a melting pot of various religious traditions and cultural influences. It became a meeting point of Indian, Chinese, Iranian and Mongolian peoples, to name but a few; it became a bridge between East and West long before modern globalization. In the footsteps of caravans, unfolds the enthralling story of the fabled commercial product, silk.
In this book the auther, Dr. Christoph Baumer, presents all the most important ancient cities of the Taklamakan, namely Dandan Oilik, Endere, Karadong, Loulan, Mazar Tagh, Miran, Niya and Rawak. The author, after Sir Aurel Stein and a Chinese archaeologist, is the third person to have visited and explored all these historical places.
Chapter 1 A Bridge between the Orient and the Occident
Chapter 2 Indo-European Migration into theTarim Basin
Chapter 3 Great Powers on the Silk Road
Chapter 4 A Meeting Place of Religions
Chapter 5 Kashgar, the Kingdom of Khotan, Rawak Stupa and Fort Mazar Tagh
Chapter 6 Dandan Oilik, the Secret City
Chapter 7 Karadong, a fortified Caravanserai of the Han
Chapter 8 The Sealed Archives of Niya
Chapter 9 Endere and Miran: Evidence of Tibetan Predominance
Chapter 10 The Lop Nor Mystery
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