Reviewed by morgan liu published on hsoyuz october, 2008 commissioned by johanna k. Nov 24, 2006 eurasian crossroads is the first comprehensive history of xinjiang, the vast central eurasian region bordering india, pakistan, afghanistan, tajikistan, kyrgyzstan, kazakhstan, russia, and mongolia. Out west in china is xinjiang where you can still travel the crisscrossing ancient trade and caravans routes and believe it or not you can discover buried ruins just by following the famous ancient silk road, starting in europe from rome through the mediterranean at constantinople istanbul, turkey the ancient caravans traveled. A brief history of xinjiang the xinjiang uyghur autonomous region encompasses onesixth of the land mass of the peoples republic of china. Strategic framework xinjiang has identified wfd as a priority and established a high degree of coherence between wfd strategy and concomitant policies. Xinjiang province workforce development saber country report 2014 dimensions status 1. To grasp xinjiang, begin with the regions two principal groups. History, transition and crossborder interaction into the 21st century routledge contemporary china series mackerras, colin, clarke, michael on. Forming onesixth of the peoples republic of china prc, xinjiang stands at the crossroads between china. Uyghers of xinjiang, china placate, integrate, assimilate. Media in category history of xinjiang the following 22 files are in this category, out of 22 total. Jul 30, 2015 troubled today, chinas xinjiang has a long history.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Xinjiang officially the xinjiang uyghur autonomous region xuar, is an autonomous region. The sensational story that afaq khwaja met with the dalai lama p. Eurasian crossroads a history of xinjiang pdf eurasia. Jul 26, 2010 millward alludes to the idea that although eurasian crossroads. The book traces the development of xinjiang from the collapse of the qing empire in the early twentieth century to the present and argues that there is a largely complementary relationship between chinas xinjiang, central asia and grand strategyderived interests. A history of xinjiang james millward columbia university press 2009 pdf. Coordination in setting and implementing wfd policy is aided by clearly defined roles and. A general assessment of the roots of unrest by vladislav shchukin introduction chinese governmental repression in xinjiang against the uighur minzu, or ethnic group, constitutes a significant infringement on human rights. The natural resource curse in xinjiang abstract natural resource abundance may have political and economic consequences. Chinese repression and uyghur militancy at eurasias crossroads.
History of uighurs in xinjiang and uighur identity the unrest in xinjiang is undoubtedly ethnic in nature. Pdf genetic history of xinjiangs uyghurs suggests bronze. Millwardeurasian crossroads a history of xinjiangcolumbia university press new york. I used uyghur sources in specific sections of the book, but not elsewhere, to be sure. This edition of our ongoing series of archaeological and historical sites of asia will focus on. The uyghur people residing in xinjiang, a territory located in the far west.
This book provides an account of how chinas evolving integrationist policies in xinjiang have influenced its foreign policy in central asia. Millward alludes to the idea that although eurasian crossroads. Xinjiang only seems to make the news when uyghurhan relations deteriorate to the point of violence, but the region is one of the crossroads of the world, with a fascinating geography and history. The recent conflict between indigenous uyghurs and han chinese demonstrates that xinjiang is a major trouble spot for china, with uyghur demands for increased autonomy, and where beijings policy is to more firmly integrate the province within china. Recent research by chinese archaeologists has identified many late prehistoric 2000400 b. Questions of ancient human settlements in xinjiang and the. The xinhai revolution in xinjiang refers to the fighting that took place in xinjiang during the xinhai revolution. Chinas investment in xinjiang over the last twenty years has created the most dramatic transformation for the province in its entire 250 year history of being under chinese rule.
Xinjiang uyghur autonomous region in northwestern china. Turkic uighur and kirghiz forces led by the uighur timur beg had been attacking chinese muslim villages and pillaging. Jan 12, 2016 xinjiang cotton at crossroads of chinas new silk road. Apr 25, 2017 yang jianli, kilic kanat, sean roberts and eric brown on the security and human rights situation in xinjiang, the uyghurs, and the prcs new silk road. Eurasian crossroads is the first comprehensive history of xinjiang, the vast central eurasian region bordering india, pakistan, afghanistan, tajikistan, kyrg. Forming onesixth of the peoples republic of china prc, xinjiang stands at the crossroads between china, india, the mediterranean, and russia and has, since the bronze age. This book explores the role it has played in the social, cultural and political development of asia and the world. In his comment he speaks to those of us who carry a deeper passion for the province and its history. The peoples republic of china insists on xinjiang, the chinese name the. Forming onesixth of the peoples republic of china prc, xinjiang stands at the crossroads between china, india, the mediterranean, and russia. The settled population of these cities later merged with incoming turkic people such as the uyghurs. Eurasian crossroads is the first comprehensive history of xinjia. In eurasian crossroads millward traces this from prehistory, through struggles between chinese and turks and arabs, islamisation, and incorporation. Forming onesixth of the peoples republic of china prc, xinjiang stands at the crossroads between china, india, the mediterranean, and russia and has, since the bronze age, played a pivotal role.
The xinjiang problem 2 the xinjiang project was conceived as a twopart exercise. Jan romgard, ancient human settlements in xinjiang and the early silk road trade sinoplatonic papers, 185 november, 2008 6 insights into other peoples history and their cultural backgrounds, we can better understand and deal with what is happening today. The uighur language, written in arabic script, has been steadily phased out of higher education, having been once deemed by xinjiang s communist leader to be unsuitable for chinas scientific development. But the renewed spate of public protests and deadly clashes in the region over the last quarter century are not simply contemporary manifestations of an enduring. Azizan, is probably one case where greater skepticism is warranted. Aksu, china reuters the youngor cotton spinning factory. The synthesis presented here organizes the data into 10 archaeological cultures, defined on the basis of ceramics, burials, small finds, and architecture. The prc official line is that xinjiang has been a part of china for two millennia and that the uighurs are not autochthonous. Historical narratives and uyghur marginalization in china. Xinjiang cotton at crossroads of chinas new silk road. The united states, having established military bases in central asia after september 2001, has now become a force in what was previously predominantly a russian sphere of influence.
Yang jianli, kilic kanat, sean roberts and eric brown on the security and human rights situation in xinjiang, the uyghurs, and the prcs new silk road. Xinjiang is now a part of the peoples republic of china, having been so since its founding year of 1949. Eurasian crossroads is the first comprehensive history of xinjiang, the vast central eurasian region bordering india, pakistan, afghanistan, tajikistan, kyrgyzstan, kazakhstan, russia, and mongolia. Xinjiang, autonomous region of china, occupying the northwestern corner of the country. I explore how the narratives of the women i study reflect historical conditions, as well as shape their political, ethical and cultural.
Chinas integration of xinjiang with central asia the china and eurasia forum quarterly may 2008 91 integration concerns, the manner and degree to which parts of a social system its individuals, groups and organs interact and complement each other. China bases its claim to xinjiang on history and an argument that says the territory has been an inalienable part of china from early dynastic times. History, transition and crossborder interaction into the 21st century routledge contemporary china series. Gender and development in the xinjiang uyghur autonomous. Here is a look at one of the most complex and fascinating historical narratives in asia. Xinjiang and chinas rise in central asia a history. Experiences of uyghur migration to turkey and the united states brill. Some argue that natural resource abundance can have a negative effect on democratic transition and the consolidation of democracy, the socalled natural resource curse in political aspect. Ethnic conflict in xinjiang by michael potters on prezi. The chinese claim, however, that anyone possessed the territory as a coherent unit before the eighteenth century. Xinjiang lies at the heart of the ancient silk road and at the intersection of china and the middle east. Millward james a, eurasian crossroads, history of xinjiang, columbia university press, new york 2007.
The history of xinjiang concerns two main geographically, historically, and ethnically distinct regions with different historical names. Han nationalist imperatives and uyghur discontent the modern political history of the region today known as xinjiang has been tumultuous and often violent. The uighur language, written in arabic script, has been steadily phased out of higher education, having been once deemed by xinjiangs communist leader to be unsuitable for chinas scientific development. The ili revolutionaries and the gelaohui were then suppressed by yang. Genetic history of xinjiangs uyghurs suggests bronze age multipleway contacts in eurasia. The uyghurs alternately uygurs, uighurs or uigurs, are a turkic minority ethnic group. That this is the first book of its kind is testament. China itself is a fascinating subject and i bad high hopes for this book but soon found myself confused by its overuse of unexplained acronyms and overly technical descriptions, to market itself as a popular factual book it really needs more stories about the actual. This is the history of xinjiang, the vast central eurasian region bordering india, pakistan, afghanistan, tajikistan, krygyzstan, kazakhstan, russia and mongolia. The movement of people and capital has been heavily subsidized in order to tap into xinjiangs abundance of oil, natural gas and cotton. A history of xinjiang is comprehensive, there is still much more to learn about xinjiang. Eurasian traders, accelerated by the breakup of the soviet union in 1991. The peoples republic of china insists on xinjiang, the chinese name the manchu qing dynasty imposed in the mideighteenth century when it conquered the region.
A striking feature of the riots unfolding in the farwestern province of xinjiang this week is. Troubled today, chinas xinjiang has a long history the. College of asia and the pacific, the australian national university australian national university eurasian crossroads. It is three times the size of france and larger than california, oregon, washington, nevada, montana, arizona, and idaho combined. Beijing the information office of the state council, or chinas cabinet, issued a white paper on the history and development of the xinjiang production and construction corps sunday. Today, in the prc it is required that works on xinjiangs history, official documents and media reports reiterate the point that xinjiang is an integral part of china.
Historical narratives and uyghur marginalization in chinas. Grose abstract in 2000, the chinese communist party established the xinjiang class xinjiang neidi gaozhong ban, a program that funds middle schoolaged students from xinjiang, mostly ethnic uyghur, to attend school in predominately han populated cities located throughout. The problems of writing a history of chinas arid westernmost and largest province begin with what to what to call it. Troubled today, chinas xinjiang has a long history. The history of the region is marked by many influences due to its central place between several civilizations. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Yang appointed ma fuxing as military commander of 2,000 chinese muslim troops, to crush yangs rivals. Aksu, china reuters the youngor cotton spinning factory is one of the biggest employers in aksu, an. Uighurs in xinjiang are often denied the right to travel outside of china, or even within it. The peoples republic of china insists on xinjiang, the chinese name the manchu. However, as xinjiang is located in chinas northwest border, with rough natural conditions and a weak economic foundation, it is still faced with many difficulties in developing its public undertakings, such as education, culture and.
The first was designed to produce a single collaborate volume that would provide educated nonspecialists in many countries with an authoritative introduction to the territory and its people, past and present. They were renamed xinjiang in 1884, meaning new frontier, when both regions were reconquered by the chinese qing. Central asia and xinjiang the far northwestern province of china are of increasing international importance. The last qing dynasty governor yuan dahua fled and handed over his resignation to yang zengxin because he could not handle fighting the revolutionaries and did not want to work for the republic of china. Eurasian crossroads a history of xinjiang pdf free download as pdf file. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. It is bordered by the chinese provinces of qinghai and gansu to the east, the tibet autonomous region to the south, afghanistan and the disputed territory of kashmir to the southwest, kyrgyzstan and tajikistan. Today, in the prc it is required that works on xinjiangs history, official documents and media reports reiterate the. The movement of people and capital has been heavily subsidized in order. Diverse religions coexist and spread in xinjiang part 2 as the main passageway and hub for economic and cultural exchanges between the east and the west in ancient times, xinjiang has always been a region where a number of religions exist side by side. Thanks to netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book, unfortunately i found this quite hard going and uninteresting. Xinjiang history, history of xinjiang, xinjiang travel.