Ancient Civilizations of Afghanistan
From the Earliest Times to the Mongol Conquest
Warwick BallA beautifully illustrated exploration of Afghanistan’s ancient cities, temples and monuments.
Afghanistan, at the meeting place of the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Central Asia, holds a key place in the spread of ancient civilizations. Its remarkable cultural heritage includes the Bronze Age Helmand civilization, the Greek kingdom of Bactria, the Kushan Empire and the Ghaznavid Empire – yet much of its history remains unknown to a general audience. This beautifully illustrated book unveils Afghanistan’s ancient cities, temples, stupas, monasteries and other monuments set against breathtaking landscapes, presenting them to a wider audience. Incorporating the latest research and discoveries, it is a captivating journey through Afghanistan’s rich antiquities, brought to life with the author’s vivid, full-colour photographs.
A beautifully illustrated exploration of Afghanistan’s ancient cities, temples and monuments.
Afghanistan, at the meeting place of the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Central Asia, holds a key place in the spread of ancient civilizations. Its remarkable cultural heritage includes the Bronze Age Helmand civilization, the Greek kingdom of Bactria, the Kushan Empire and the Ghaznavid Empire – yet much of its history remains unknown to a general audience. This beautifully illustrated book unveils Afghanistan’s ancient cities, temples, stupas, monasteries and other monuments set against breathtaking landscapes, presenting them to a wider audience. Incorporating the latest research and discoveries, it is a captivating journey through Afghanistan’s rich antiquities, brought to life with the author’s vivid, full-colour photographs.
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In his hallmark lucid style, Warwick Ball sets out a magisterial sweep of the cultures that thrived across Afghanistan. He provides a fascinating exposition of how Buddhism and then Islam emerged and merged as a continuum in Afghanistan’s cultural evolution across the centuries.
'Diana Darke, author of Islamesque: The Forgotten Craftsmen Who Built Europe’s Medieval Monuments and The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy
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Through page-turning prose and eye-popping pictures, Warwick Ball brings to life the sophistication and splendour of the distant Afghan past. After fifty years of archaeological research, his infectious enthusiasm remains as strong as ever. An authoritative and evocative introduction.
'Nile Green, author of Empire’s Son, Empire’s Orphan: The Fantastical Lives of Ikbal and Idries Shah
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This beautifully illustrated and clearly written survey of the archaeology and early history of Afghanistan places it where it belongs – at the center of world events and not its periphery. Anyone seeking a sophisticated introduction to this complex field of study should begin here first.
'Thomas Barfield, Professor at Boston University and author of Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History
Introduction: Elusive Definitions
1 Afghanistan and the Outside World
2 A Land of Two Rivers: The Oxus and Helmand Civilizations of the Bronze Age
3 Iron Age Changes: Indo-Iranian Languages and the Rise of the Persian Empire
4 Hellenism Transformed: Macedonian Invasion to Greek Kingdoms
5 A Forgotten Empire: From Hunted Nomad Chiefs to Kushan Emperors
6 Buddhist Art: Greek, Roman and Indian Styles Merge in Afghanistan
7 The Great Buddhas of Bamiyan and Beyond: Huns, Turks and Hindus
8 A New Imperial Era: The Ghaznavid and Ghurid Empires
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Warwick Ball is an archaeologist and author who spent over twenty years carrying out excavations, architectural studies and monumental restoration throughout the Middle East. He is the author of many books on the history and archaeology of the region including The Archaeological Gazetteer of Afghanistan (revised edn, 2019).