Silkroad III: From Bokhara to Begram and Barygaza –  Central Asia and the Indus Valley

The Central Asian section of the Silkroad to the West of the Pamir Mountains offered the chance for the Maritime route and Landroute of the Silkroad to interact with each other. Here the routes from China and the Tarim basin split with one route continuing West through Afghanistan into the Parthian kingdom, while the other route headed south into the Indus Valley and from there to Northern India and the harbours at the mouth of the Indus and the Gulf of Kutch (starting with Barbarikon and the Barygaza).

The archaeology is defined by its climate: oasis cities in the North and West preserves organic material, while the fertility of the Indus Valley allowed for extraordinarily large sites to flourish.

This 10-week course will explore the archaeology and history of the area, as well as the history of its archaeology. This coincides with a large exhibition at the Louvre on the archaeology of Usbekistan and we will discuss the possibility of a visit (not included in the price).

19 January Geography with a vengeance: the role of oasis, rivers, and pass routes in defining access to resources and trading partners

26 January  The early stages of prehistory in Central Asia and the role of horses

2 February   The early stages in the south: The cities of the Harappan culture and their attempts to gain access to the resources of the interior.

9 February  The Rise of the Persian influence

16 February Alexander’s Hellenistic culture vs Asoka’s Indian expansion – which is the stronger influence

23 February  half-term (if interested: a possible trip to Paris to see the Louvre and the Musée Guimet)

2 March  Kushana, Gandharan art, and the rise of the Maritime trade route

9 March  The Sogdians and the Sassanian state. How neutral are these traders?

16 March  The Abbasid empire in the East, the theory and the practical problems

23 March  From the massacres of the Mongols to the glories of Bokhara?

30 March The coming of the Mughals (the last chapter of the Silkroad?)