The Empire of the Qara Khitai in Eurasian History: Between China and the Islamic World

by Michal Biran

The empire of the Qara Khitai, which was one of the least known and most fascinating dynasties in the history of Central Asia, existed for nearly a century before it was conquered by the Mongols in 1218. Arriving in Central Asia from China, the Qara Khitai ruled over a mostly Muslim population. Their history affords a unique window onto the extensive cross-cultural contacts between China, Inner Asian nomads and the Muslim world in the period preceding the rise of Chinggis Khan. Using an extensive corpus of Muslim and Chinese sources, Michal Biran comprehensively examines the political, institutional and cultural histories of the Qara Khitai. Her book explores a range of topics including the organization of the army, the position of women, the image of China in Muslim Central Asia,the religions of the Qara Khitai and the legacy they left for the Mongols. Crucially she asks why they did not, unlike their predecessors and successors in Central Asia, embrace Islam. The book represents a groundbreaking contribution to the field of Eurasian history for students of the Islamic world, China and Central Asia.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction, Islam

300 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2005

Reviews

[Bryn Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only book on the subject, guys. Grab it.
Half the book is 'political history' and half is 'aspects of cultural history'. The politics covers less than a century, so you get to know the actors in this drama - a few amazing people. The cultural studies give a depth of portraiture too.
Two out of five heads of this state were women, if you're into that - not regents, but with the exact titles their father or brother had (argues this author - don't expect to find that acknowledged elsewhere).

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many books are there on this in english? Even te precursor Liao Dynasty is well covered in books like Mote's 'Late Imperial China' and the like. a treasure, really.