Ancient Civilizations of Afghanistan: From the Earliest Times to the Mongol Conquest

(Hardback)

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Description

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.

Reviews

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 Afghanistans cultural evolution across the centuries. * Diana Darke, author of Islamesque: The Forgotten Craftsmen Who Built Europes Medieval Monuments and The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy *
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 Empires Son, Empires Orphan: The Fantastical Lives of Ikbal and Idries Shah *
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 *

Author Bio

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).