Rediscovering Central Asia's Glorious Past: A Journey Through the Golden Age of Enlightenment

Rhode Islander: The Five 'Stans . I went one Spring on a lark , Scared , dubious enough to bring meds and a silk sleeping bag to shield me from critters . The trip was in the top three ( along with Ireland and South Africa ) for amazement , charm, astonishment, beauty and sympathy of the 155 countries I have explored .
I still get kidded about "the Stans " by my lawyern! so I bought this book to have some pushback and more depth of knowledge .
Go if you possibly can , everything is tidy and clean, but the stories and history are best consumed after visiting all of the 'Stans with this excellent guide.
The book will grab you right away . loads of facts as the actual and historic setting forms in your head . Very well written . Weighty . Go for it

United States on Dec 08, 2023

Plinio Freire Gomes: Frederick Starr escreveu páginas memoráveis sobre um mundo quase completamente desconhecido. A Ásia Central, no coração da Rota da Seda, foi protagonista de uma fusão própria e original entre as culturas da Pérsia, da China e do Complexo Nômade das Estepes. Como ele mesmo reitera, não estamos falando de uma “encruzilhada de civilizações” e sim de uma “civilização da encruzilhada”.

Brazil on Dec 12, 2022

アーマチュア: 日本では、殆ど知られていないイスラム文化圏の文化史、知性史の本です。中央アジアの見方が変わります。翻訳がないのは、残念だけどけれど、読みやすい英語です。

Japan on Jan 14, 2022

Eugene Ramcharan: Reading this book, one might be forgiven for thinking that all the development in science and technology in Central Asia occurred principally through the support of Islamic leadership. However, Central Asians, as well as Indians and Chinese, had already made significant breakthroughs which facilitated the development of the region and contributed to its success by the time of the Islamic invasions and conquest. While mention is made of Greece, the contributions made by its scientists and philosophers seem to have been relegated to an intellectual footnote, and not the foundation that it really is.

Canada on Jul 23, 2021

Marc E. Nicholson: This book is the culmination of a lifetime of study by the Princeton professor who wrote it, had the benefit of knowing many exotic languages, and so was almost uniquely qualified to write it. It is THOROUGHLY sourced.

It is an eye-opener in portraying the reasons and geography why a brilliant urban civilization grew up around AD 1000 in the Silk Road cities of Central Asia (mostly Persian, not Arab, in ethnic/intellectual origins), achieved great advances (esp. in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and other sciences, but yes--the poet Omar Khayyam also was there), paved the way (cast the seeds) in some ways for Europe's own Renaissance a few centuries later, and then declined in the face of conservative religious Islamic reaction to its pursuit of knowledge outside the literal tenants of the Koran. The book sometimes gets too much into the weeds or (as regards to mathematical/astronomical achievements) too scientifically impenetrable to the layperson, but despite all that it is a window on a great story most of us do not know and of the contributions to knowledge and thought that that civilization produced and upon which, in many cases, European civilization later built....

United States on Jul 04, 2021

Aimal Amiri: The book is very informative and thoroughly researched, however the authors zealous crusade to rid of Islamic influences is grossly apparent. It makes for very exhaustive reading, presenting your opinion as objective truth rather than just “opinion” disservice the very people whom he’s trying glorify.

There is a lot of gems that can be gained from reading this book, but would I recommend it ? No. Simply let the historical record and the people in question ‘speak for themselves’. Imposing ones own values and understanding on a past peoples is wrong, let the texts speak for themselves

Australia on Feb 21, 2021

Ana: Una maravilla de libro

Spain on May 31, 2020

Barry Melius: Complex subjects are impossible to fit in a book, but the author of Lost Enlightenment gives it a very game try. The period covered is necessarily vague but 700 CE thru 1100 would cover at least the core period with some going several centuries earlier for the beginning and/or a couple of centuries later for the ending. The area covered, Central Asia,stretches from eastern Iran to western China and on the north/south axis from the southern Russian border to that of northern India. At the crossroads of the of the world's largest landmass Central Asia has, over time, been scene to more turmoil,traffic, technology,trade,conquest,religions,and exchange of ideas than any other comparably sized piece of real estate on the planet and those factors may have very well been the reason for its flowering. A challenging/dangerous place to live in other words but one that is fascinating to read about.
It would have been easy to be overwhelmed by the plethora of places, events,and leading characters in this ambitious history. Add to that the fact that many of the dramatis personae had multiple names(birth,Arabic,known in the West as) and the potential for confusion is high. Not worrying about...

United States on Jun 13, 2018

JRG: I purchased this book to plug a very large gap in my knowledge of history and the cultures of the world. The reviews I read were very favorable so I took a chance and I must say I am not disappointed. The first chapter, quite correctly, outlines the author's purpose, places his work in scholarly perspective and handles some technical issues. From chapter two on, the narrative just pulls the reader on in a smooth narrative and discussion of a fascinating world and the fabulous minds that inhabited it. I find the book extremely enjoyable and highly informative. Having said this, and given the book five stars, I feel compelled to make two complaints. First the map in the front is insufficient. This book needs and deserves a number of first rate maps scattered throughout the text. Second, although Mr. Starr writes very nicely, the book is poorly edited. It is distressing to come across over a dozen typos. A book of such high quality content should command first rate quality control. The cost, I believe, should have been enough to ensure this. --JRG

United States on Feb 12, 2015