This book delves into the architectural and social changes which affected cities located throughout Central Asia between the 7th and the 13th centuries. These changes stemmed from the two most notable political events which shook the region during that period, namely the Arab conquest and the Abbasid Revolution. It also describes the art and craft performed by the inhabitants, from glassblowing and jewellery to bone carving and pottery. Most of the excavated material illustrated in this book comes from the city of Panjikent.
A glossary of key terms from the various Eastern languages used (Arabic, Persian, Sogdian, Sanskrit, and Turkic) has been added. The appendix also provides a pyramidal illustration of the castes which made up Sogdian society prior to the Arab conquest.
Pierre de Trémiolles is a freelance translator. He has studied Russian history at MGIMO (Moscow) and Ottoman-Turkish history at Boğaziçi University (Istanbul).