ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity (Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia)

Central Asia is commonly imagined as the marginal land on the periphery of Chinese and Middle Eastern civilisations. At best, it is understood as a series of disconnected areas that served as stop-overs along the Silk Road. However, in the mediaeval period, this region rose to prominence and importance as one of the centres of Persian-Islamic culture, from the Seljuks to the Mongols and Timur. Khodadad Rezakhani tells the back story of this rise to prominence, the story of the famed Kushans and mysterious 'Asian Huns', and their role in shaping both the Sasanian Empire and the rest of the Middle East.Contextualises Persian history in relation to the history of Central Asia . Extends the concept of late antiquity further east than is usually done . Surveys the history of Iran and Central Asia between 200 and 800 CE and contextualises the rise of Islam in both regions . Central Asia Is Commonly Imagined As The Marginal Land On The Periphery Of Chinese And Middle Eastern Civilisations. At Best, It Is Understood As A Series Of Disconnected Areas That Served As Stop-overs Along The Silk Road. However, In The Mediaeval Period, This Region Rose To Prominence And Importance As One Of The Centres Of Persian-islamic Culture, From The Seljuks To The Mongols And Timur. Khodadad Rezakhani Tells The Back Story Of This Rise To Prominence, The Story Of The Famed Kushans And Mysterious ‘asian Huns’, And Their Role In Shaping Both The Sasanian Empire And The Rest Of The Middle East.-- The Sasanians And The Sistanis -- The Kushans And The Sasanians -- The Kushano-sasanians In East Iran -- The Iranian Huns And The Kidarites -- The Alkhans In The Southern Hindu Kush -- The Hephthalite Empire And Its Successors -- Sogdiana In The Kidarite And Hephthalite Periods -- The Nēzak And Turk Periods -- Tokharistan And Sogdiana In The Late Sasanian Period -- General Conclusions And Postscript -- Epilogue And Excursus On The Shahnameh. Khodadad Rezakhani. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 199-234) And Index. The Sasanians were the last great power to rule over Iran/Persia before the advent of Islam. Through the use of archaeological material, coins, artistic remains, as well as primary sources in the local languages of Central Asia, Rezakhani will look at the world of the east as it was viewed by the Sasanians and evaluate their presence in the lands that became Khorasan in the early Islamic period and as such a source of power struggle, change and challenge for the Islamic state In the mediaeval period, Central Asia rose to prominence as a centre of Persian-Islamic culture, from the Seljuks to the Mongols. Khodadad Rezakhani tells the back story of this rise to prominence, the story of the famed Kushans and mysterious 'Asian Huns', and their role in shaping both the Sasanian Empire and the rest of the Middle East