[Bilimsel Haber] PUBL.- Abazov, Rafis. The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

PUBL.- Abazov, Rafis. The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics

Posted by: Rafis Abazov <polra99 at hotmail.com>

PUBL.- Abazov, Rafis. The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian
Republics. Westport, Connecticut and London, Greenwood Press, 2007.
360 pp., Map, 30 illustrations. ISBN: 0-313-33656-3

Modern Central Asian culture represents a rich heritage of the
glorious Persian and Turkic civilizations and the legacy of the mighty
nomadic empires - from the Scythians to the Mongols. Its oriental
bazaars still bear the cultural imprint of the great Silk Road that
ran through the region for nearly for 2,000 years. Present-day
handicrafts and the lifestyle of the last pastoral nomads of the
Eurasian continent are intertwined with ancient customs and traditions
that even now remain unspoiled by mass tourism and globalization.
Famous presently for its huge oil and gas reserves and close proximity
to hot spots in world politics, Central Asia has undergone rapid and
fundamental changes, asserting its independence and its place in the
international arena. Yet, Central Asian culture remains relatively
unknown to the West.

The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics provides a
concise yet thorough overview of the region. The book is greatly
enriched by Rafis Abazov's insider knowledge of dynamic changes in the
post-independence era. Its complex cultural heritage is shown in its
appalling extremes. Historically, the region was on par with the most
vibrant and advanced civilizations of the Middle East, South Asia and
China. Eventually it fell far behind due to internal turmoil and
savage wars, and was ultimately colonized by the Russian Empire.
Central Asia gave the world some of the most progressive and
influential Muslim scholars and spiritual leaders, such as Avicenna,
Al Farabi, Al Bukhari, Naqhshbandi and many others; yet, at the same
time it harbored some of the most conservative views and customs. Its
distinct architectural landscape coexists with tedious blocks of
modern cheap architecture. Some metropolitan areas are rapidly moving
towards developed countries conditions, where creative writers,
actors, painters and composers find inspiration in indigenous artistic
traditions and experiment with modern forms. In the meantime some
rural areas are falling behind with living conditions comparable with
those in the worst developing countries.

Coverage includes thoughts and religions, folklore, literature, media,
cinema, performing and visual arts, gender and marriage, festival and
social customs. Evocative photos, a map, a chronology, and a glossary
compliment the text; and the selected bibliography (resource guide)
provides a resource for curious readers to conduct further studies.
This is the best source for students and general readers to gain
extensive insight into the "jewel of Eurasia."

Author:
Rafis Abazov is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Harriman
Institute of Columbia University, New York. He is the author of four
books including Historical Dictionary of Kyrgyzstan and Historical
Dictionary of Turkmenistan.




Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian
Studies