CEUS U496 0678 Bregel
Ethnic History of Central Asia
The course is a general survey of ethnic history of Central Asia from the first centuries A.D. to the
present time. Central Asia is defined as the western part of Inner Asia; it stretches from the
Caspian Sea in the west to Eastern Turkestan (Sinkiang) in the east, and belongs culturally to the
Islamic world. Throughout its history Central Asia has been a crossroad of cultures and
civilizations, and a connecting link between East Asia, South Asia, Near East, and Eastern
Europe. It was affected by numerous migrations and invasions of various nomadic peoples up to
the 18th century. As a result of continuous movements of populations of different ethnic and
racial origin, a very complicated ethnic map of modern Central Asia emerged. During the last
century, the interethnic relations in the region were further affected by the imperial policies of the
Soviet Union and China, and by the rise of nationalism in Central Asian republics. The course will
discuss all these changes and will provide an historical background for the understanding of
interethnic relations in contemporary Central Asia.
Required Texts: No single textbook will be used. A study of all literature given in the
bibliography (to be distributed in class) is required; part of it will be provided as handouts.
Exams: Geographical Quiz; Midterm; Final Examination.
Papers: Graduate students have to write a paper. A comprehensive bibliography for the paper
must be compiled by the students and submitted by midterm.
Days and Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-3:45.