This book presents outstanding articles addressing various aspects related to the ancient Silk Road, in particular the cultural, political, and economic interactions that took place among the civilizations and cultures on the Eurasian continent. In addition, the articles help to reveal the hallmark features of cultural communication in Inner Asia in different historical periods. The book develops a new approach to studying the civilizations of the Silk Road, promotes interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional research, sets a new direction for Chinese ancient classics and western sinology, and presents the latest discoveries, including both archaeological finds and historical documents.

Autorentext
Dr. Xiao Li, a Professor at the School of Chinese Classics, Renmin University of China, has participated in archaeological fieldwork and pursued extensive research on the prehistoric and historical periods in Northwestern China and Central Asia. With his outstanding experience, both in fieldwork and theoretical research, he has considerable expertise in the archaeology and history of Xinjiang, the origin and development of the central Asian civilizations, and the modes of interactions between Xinjiang and Central Asia.

Inhalt
The Establishment of Kushan Cities and the Expansion of the Silk Road in South Asian Subcontinent.- A Re-Understanding of the Silk Road Based on Han Dynasty Bamboo and Wooden Slips from Xuanquan, Dunhuang.- A Discussion of the Sales Contracts in Kharosthi Script Discovered Along the Silk Road.- The Use and Circulation of Silver Coins in Gaochang.- The Entering of Yizhou and the Tang Empire into the Western Regions.- The Traffic in the Western Regions Before and After the Tang Conquest: a Reflection on the Kuchean Laissez-Passers.- A Study of the Cross-Lotus Design on a Newly-Found Nestorian Bronze Mirror.- A Historical Study on the Newly Discovered "Zangza Qianren Cheng Yin" Seal from Loulan.- Local Administrators or Military Post: A Study on the Tang Dynasty Term "Chengju", Based on Documents from Turpan.- The Representation of Non-Buddhist Deities in Khotanese Paintings and Some Related Problems.- The Management of Hu People from Central Asia During Tang Dynasty as Seen from Dunhuang-Turpan Manuscripts.- Longing for the Inland and Turning Towards the Nation: The Situation and the Measures Taken After the Foundation of the General-Governor Office in the Western Regions.- The Territory and Traffic of Yarkand During the Yuan Dynasty.- On Mongol Landscape Map of the Ming Dynasty.