There are many things that surprised me about the contents of this book. Like many people in my locale I was brought up with a Eurocentric view of history that there were a few Kings and Queens and then we had a couple of World Wars. I don't suppose it is that different in the States or in some parts of Africa for that matter.
The publishers have given this book a rather pretentious claim to be "A New History of the World". It is. As long as you recognise that it is still going to be one view (although curiously echoed by Sam Willis' excellent BBC documentary The Silk Road) then The Silk Roads gives a welcome, refreshing and fascinating view from the Asian end of the road and in particular the "stans" and other partially lost cultures, nations and religions of the vast lands above India between Turkey and China. These nations and people became partially eclipsed by conquest but their mineral wealth will probably bring them (or at least their oligarchs) back into view as the Silk Roads remain open for business.
