History of civilizations of Central Asia, v. 6: Towards the contemporary period: from the mid-nineteenth to the end of the twentieth century
Document Type
Book
Publication Date
2005
Abstract
The historical relationship existing between nomadic and sedentary peoples, living in quite different environments – steppes and oases – played a key part in shaping the cultural diversity of Central Asia and made an important contribution to its originality. To what extent and in what ways did the same influences affect different societies and fulfil different functions in extremely varied environments? In this work, we find numerous examples of diverse cultures living together, distinguishable but nevertheless sharing a common heritage. Therefore, this work strongly attests that each and every culture has made its own distinct contribution to the common heritage of humankind, as recalled in the words of the great Iranian poet and philosopher Saadi Shirazi several hundred years ago: ‘All human beings are like organs of a body; when one organ is afflicted with pain, others cannot rest in peace.’ The History of Civilizations of Central Asia illustrates perfectly the wealth of diversity and the foundation it provides of a shared future. Today, we are faced with a new challenge: to make of that diversity an instrument for dialogue and mutual understanding.
Recommended Citation
Palat, Madhavan K., and Anara Tabyshalieva. History of civilizations of Central Asia, v. 6: Towards the contemporary period: from the mid-nineteenth to the end of the twentieth century. Paris, UNESCO Publishing, 2005. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001412/141275e.pdf
Comments
Copyright © UNESCO 2005.