Publisher's Synopsis
This collection of essays focuses on the formation of ethnic, religious and national identities in the Muslim societies of Central Asia. Geographically, the essays cover Chinese Central Asia, Soviet Central Asia, Afghanistan, Transoxiana and Khurasan. Historically they trace developments from the 15th century to the present day. Drawing on scholarship in anthropology, religion, history, literature and language studies they examine the social construction of identities as expressed through literature, Islamic discourse, historical texts, ethnic labels and genealogies, and explore how such identities are formed, changed and adapted through time.
