Turkestan - the great landmass of Central Asia and Western China - is a unique meeting point of civilizations. The Great Silk Road that led to the nations and empires of the West ran through this vast and sometimes forbidding region and four major invasions (Greek, Arab, Mongol and Russian), together with Persian, Turkic and Chinese cultural influences, have made their mark on it. In this comprehensive account of the culture and history of Turkestan, Edgar Knobloch describes the major centres of civilization from the Caspian Sea in the west to the fringes of the Tibetan plateau in the east. He provides extensive information on the archaeological, architectural and historical features of a myriad of sites throughout the region. Photographs are supplemented by numerous line drawings, plans of the major cities, and sketches of principal monuments. This book should be a valuable guide to academics and interested travellers.