Historical anthropology of the Silk Roads

While few archaeological finds remain concerning dress during the Iron Age of the Celtic Tribes in Europe, if we consider historical commentary, Celtic art, oral traditions and archaeological data together we can amass a generic idea what might have been available and worn by them. This broad approach to dress is not with out bias however and it must be noted that regional differences must have existed. The document tries to amass not just the generic view of dress but also emphasizes the issues of lack of evidence and culture and region differences that impact this information.

Imperial rivalry between China and Tibet for control in the Pamir region figured prominently in 7th-9th century Inner Asian geopolitics.  The two empires competed as patrons for client kingdoms in and around the Pamir, utilizing the diplomatic arts of gift exchange, subsidies, marriage relations, trade and protection against enemies.  When these strategies failed to achieve the desired results, the empires resorted to the art of war.  Their diplomatic and military strategies are well-documented in imperial records - the Tang Dynasty Annals  and the Old Tibetan Annals . The Chinese military campaign of 747 CE is the most notable military action in the Pamir and was first brought to scholarly attention by Aurel Stein.  This article, drawing on original field research in Afghanistan, archival research in Peshawar and London and my translation of Russian language material, presents new information about the extent of the defensive communication networks in the Pamir and Hindukush region, examines the events surrounding the campaign, and the impacts on the client states of the region and their relations with their Chinese and Tibetan patrons.

Sophia G. Vashalomidze (Halle/ Saale) beleuchtet in ihrem Artikel „Georgien, kulturelle Schwelle zwischen Asien und Europa am Beispiel der Barlaam-Legende“ die Verbreitung derselben und die diesbezügliche Vermittlerrolle Georgiens. Die christianisierte Form der Buddhalegende sei über georgische und griechische Übertragungen in den Westen bis nach Irland, Spanien und Island gelangt. Der indische Bodhisattva hielt über sogdisch/ persisch Bōdīsaf und arabisch Būdāsaf als Joasaph Einzug in die christliche Ökumene.