PUNJAB UNIVERSITY MA History Syllabus

Course HIS/609 Central Asia
1. Brief Introduction:
Central Asia has played a vital role in history of the world. Much has world’s ancient history originated in central Asia for it was the birthplace of the great warrior tribes which conquered Russia, Europe, India and China. It had been a hunting ground for two great powers of the 19th century i.e. Russia and Britain. The long era of Russian-Soviet rule drastically changed the society and culture of Central Asia. Since the break up of USSR, Central Asian republics have gained their independence. For a Pakistani student, to study Central Asia is important because of close historical, religious, socio-cultural, economic and political relations between Central Asia and Indian sub-continent.
2. Aims & Objectives:
After studying this course, the students will be able to:
¾ Understand the nature of the historical development of Central Asia.
¾ Appreciate the socio-cultural and religious contributions of Central Asia.
¾ Understand the geo-strategic significance of the region particularly from a Pakistani perspective.
3. Contents:
™ Early Period
• The land and the people
• Early nomadic tribes and their Origin
• Geo-Strategic Significance of the Region
• The saka Tuiles, the segthious, the Parthian the Persian rule and sarramids
• Alexander the Great and the Greek rule
• Religious Trends and Spread of Budhism
• Arrival of the Huns and Turkic Tribes ™ Islamic Period
• Early Invasions of the Arabs, Arab rule in Farbeaund Valley
• Religious Socio-cultural Transformation of Central Asia under the Arabs
• Samanid Rule and their Contributions in Art, Culture and Science
• The Ghaznavid Dynasty
• The Seljuks and their Contributions
™ Mongol Invasion and Chengiz Khan: Impact on the Region. ™ Amir Timur and Timurid Dynasty
™ Decline of the Muslim Rule
• Shaybani Uzbeks
• The Khannates of Khiva, Bukhara and Koband
• Characteristics and Nature of the Era
™ Russian Advance in Central Asia
• Causes and aims of the Russian expansion
• Causes of the Russian success
• Socio-economic political and religious conditions of Central Asia under Russian
• The Great Grace in the 19th century
• Résistance against Russian rule and the nationalist movement ™ Soviet Era
• Bolshevik revolution (1947) and the response of Central Asia the Jadid
movement and the Basmachi movement.
• Sovietization of Central Asia
• The socio-cultural transformation of Central Asia. ™ Post-Independence Scenario
• Disintegration f USSR and the Independence and formation of commonwealth
of Independent states (CIS)
• New Great Game: role of Turkey, Iran Pakistan, Russia, USA, Afghanistan, etc.
• Socio-cultural, political and religious problems of the new republics.
• Economic prospects and regional co-operation: ECO
5. Basic Readings
Rashid, Ahmad. The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism (London:
Oxford University Press, 1995)
Dani, A.H. Central Asia Today.
6. Additional Reading
Ahinar, S. Islamic Peoples of the Soviet Union(London: Kegan Paul International,1983).
Allworth, E. The Modern Uzbeks: From Fourteenth century to the Present, A Cultural History (USA: Hooner Institution Press, 1990)
Central Asia: A century of Russian Rule New York: 1967)
Baily, F.M. Mission to Taskent (England: Oxford University Press, 1992 Hamlly, Ganin: Central Asia (London: 1969
Hauner, M. What is Asia to us: Russia in Asian Heartbud Yesterday and Today (London Uncuin Hyman, 1990)
Hopkin, P. The Great Game (London: John Murray
Lamb H. Tamerlance the Earth Shaker (Delhi Deep Publications 1989 Lecus, R Geographic Perspectives on Soviet Central Asia (London: Routledge, 1992 Magawan, R. Fabled Cities of Central Asia:Samarkand Bukhora Khiva (New York: Abbemille Press 1989)
Mamz, B.F. The rise and rule of Toumerlane (UK: Candide University Press, 1989)
Maruat, F.R. The basemachi movement in Soviet Central Asia (Karachi Enjoy Books,1985
Philips, E.D. The Royal Hordes Novad peoples of the Steppes (London: Thames and Hudson, 1965
Pierce, R.A. Russian Central Asia: A study in Colonial Rule (Berkely California University Press 1960
Rawlinson, H. England and Russian in the East: the Political and Geographical condition of Central Asia (London 1875) Reprinted by Indus publications Karachi Runder, B. Soviet Central Asia: a tragic experiment (London University Hyman Press 1889)
Spectpr, I. The Soviet Union and the Muslim world: 1917-1985 (USA University of Wessington Press , 1959)
Vambery, A. Sketches of Central Asia (London: 1968)
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