Beyond Ibn Hawqal’s Bahr al-Fars: 10th–13th Centuries AD: Sindh and the Kij-u-Makran region, hinge of an international network of religious, political, institutional and economic affairs: 10th–13th Centuries AD: Sindh and the Kij-u-Makran region, hinge of

"The first section of the present volume is a report of the Italian involvement in Southern Makrān and Kharān, its aims and objects, modus operandi. It is essentially restricted to the Islamic era and represents a discourse preliminary to the second section. The methodological approach of combining historical sources (written and manuscript, Persian and Arabic) with archaeological evidence and geo-morphological study has allowed for a re-reading of the traditional literature and the role played by Makrān and, in particular, the Kīj-u-Makrān region during the 10th-13th Centuries AD. Many questions put by this mystifying region still stand only partly answered, if not completely un-answered. After three seasons of archaeological field-work and research - complemented with accurate geo-morphological surveys and studying - we are still confronted with an elusive region and some crucial queries. 'Part Two' of this study is the follow up of the archaeological and geo-morphological research-work: a historical study, which focuses on the 10th-13th Centuries AD."-- Publisher's website Front Cover Title Page Copyright Table of Contents List of plates Dedication Transliteration Foreword Acknowledgments PART ONE. South Makrān. A Vaporous Mystifying Region: Archaeological Evidence vis-à-vis Geo-morphological Configuration and Literary Sources 1. Italian Initiative in Baluchistan: Italian Historical, Archaeological and Anthropological Research-Work in Makrān and Kharān (Baluchistan): 1987-2001 2. From Baluchistan to Sindh: Italian Involvement (2010-2012). Search for “the Great Harbour-Town to the East”: Banbhore? PART TWO Combining History and Archaeology The Sea 1. The Būyids: Foundation of a political-military and economic Dominion. The Bahr al-Fārs. Makrān - Spine of a land and sea international trade-network 2. Turkish Pressure and Invasions. New Alliances. The Seljuks. The closing up of the triangle: Makran – Spine of the new political, military and economic system 3. Harmuz and Qays: The Configuration of New Cultural and Mercantile Patterns 4. Harmuz-Qalhāt-Kīj: The Triangle of Harmuz Power and Maritime Dominion. Marco Polo’s “Chesmacoran” 5. ‘Umān, Makrān, Kirmān ... and the Sea Epilogue References General Index "The first section of the present volume is a report of the Italian involvement in Southern Makrān and Kharān, its aims and objects, modus operandi. It is essentially restricted to the Islamic era and represents a discourse preliminary to the second section. The methodological approach of combining historical sources (written and manuscript, Persian and Arabic) with archaeological evidence and geo-morphological study has allowed for a re-reading of the traditional literature and the role played by Makrān and, in particular, the Kīj-u-Makrān region during the 10th-13th Centuries AD. Many questions put by this mystifying region still stand only partly answered, if not completely un-answered. After three seasons of archaeological field-work and research - complemented with accurate geo-morphological surveys and studying - we are still confronted with an elusive region and some crucial queries. 'Part Two' of this study is the follow up of the archaeological and geo-morphological research-work: a historical study, which focuses on the 10th-13th Centuries AD."-- Publisher's website Italian initiative in Baluchistan : Italian historical, archaeological and anthropological research-work in Makrān and Kharān (Baluchistan) : 1987-2001 From Baluchistan to Sindh : Italian involvement (2010-2012). Search for "the great harbour-town of the east" : Banbhore? The Būyids : foundation of a political-military and economic dominion. The Bahr al-Fārs. Makrān - spine of a land and sea international trade-network (10th-11th centuries AD) Turkish pressure and invasions. New alliances. The Seljuks. The closing up of the triangle : Makrān - spine of the new political, military and economic system (11th-13th centuries AD) Harmuz and Qays : the configuration of new cultural and mercantile patterns (5th-6th/11th-12th centures) Harmuz-Qalhāt-Kīj : the triangle of Harmuz power and maritime dominion. Marco Polo's "Chesmacoran" (AH 6th-7th centuries/AD 12th-13th centuries) 'Umān, Makrān, Kirmān... and the sea (7th-8th/13th-14th centuries).