Russia and Central Asia provides an overview of the relationship between two dynamic regions, highlighting the ways in which Russia and Central Asia have influenced and been influenced by Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This readable synthesis, covering early coexistence in the seventeenth century to the present day, seeks to encourage new ways of thinking about how the modern world developed.

Shoshana Keller focuses on the five major "Stans": Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Cultural and social history are interwoven with the military narrative to provide a sense of the people, their religion, and their practices - all of which were severely tested under Stalin.

The text includes a glossary as well as images and maps that help to highlight 500 years of changes, bringing Central Asia into the general narrative of Russian and world history and introducing a fresh perspective on colonialism and modernity.

About the Author
Shoshana Keller is a professor in the Department of History at Hamilton College.

Reviews
"Shoshana Keller's Russia and Central Asia: Coexistence, Conquest, Convergence is a book I couldn't put down. Anyone curious about Central Asia from a Russian history background would benefit from her unassuming prose. Whatever your interest, there will surely be an aspect of Central Asian and Russian history that will tickle your fancy. The University of Toronto Press publishes some of the most powerful books that demystify this shrouded region and lesser-known history, opening the doors so that any student can begin learning about the richness of these societies." -- Katherine Leung * Lossi 36 Weekly *
"Shoshanna Keller has written an important book on the history of Central Asia that covers its pre-Russian, Russian imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet periods, focusing on the imperial and Soviet periods. As she tackles this thorny subject, Keller's most significant contribution is to bring into focus the nomadic perspective that has largely been neglected by earlier scholarship." -- Gulnar Kendirbai, Columbia University * Acta Via Serica *
"Well informed on historical debates of each period that the book addresses, Keller demonstrates how the relations between these two spaces evolved before, during, and after key episodes in their respective histories." -- Alisher Khaliyarov, Ohio State University * Central Asian Survey *
"The book's simplicity and strong engagement with new finds in existing scholarly literature make this an important survey text for those looking to first engage Central Asia." -- Jeff Sahadeo, Carleton University * American Historical Review *


Awards
Short-listed for 2020 Central Eurasian Study Society Book Award in History and the Humanities 2020 (United States).



Book Information
ISBN 9781487594343
Author Shoshana Keller
Format Paperback
Page Count 360
Imprint University of Toronto Press
Publisher University of Toronto Press
Weight(grams) 480g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 19mm