Follow in the footsteps of ancient caravans as we journey along the historic Silk Road on this sweeping survey of the five 'Stan countries of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Accompanied by renowned professors Marshall and Merle Goldman, this joint Wellesley-Harvard trip will explore the fabled capitals of Silk Road commerce and their modern incarnations.
With Central Asia's strategic location and its reserves of oil and gas, this area is arguably even more significant now than when it was at the center of the great trade routes. With expert guidance, learn about its historic past and discover its role in the unfolding narrative of today's ever-changing world.
Our journey begins in vast Kazakhstan, with that country's most vital city, Almaty, which once served as the capital and remains the major commercial center of the area. Next, we continue through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan to leafy Bishkek for a performance of the Epic of Manas, about the ninth-century Kyrgyz mythical hero. In Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, we will visit the studio of a sixth-generation ceramics master and admire the Kukeldash Madrassah, one of the largest 16th-century madrassahs remaining in Central Asia.
Next, we visit the rich histories and incredible Persian architecture of Samarkand, the blue-tiled imperial capital of Tamerlane; Bukhara, where the 2,000-year-old Ark Citadel guards the Old Town; and Khiva, with its mud-brick minarets pleated and woven into fabulous patterns. We will also make a foray into Tajikistan to visit the site of an archaeological dig at Old Penjikent, founded in the fifth century.
Finally, our journey is rounded out with a visit to Ashkabad, Turkmenistan's modern capital. Here, we will enjoy a morning at one of Central Asia's best bazaars, the Tolkuchka Sunday Market, which brims with deep red carpets, silver jewelry, and bushy lambskin hats. A visit to the private studio of a Turkmen jewelry master promises to be a highlight.
Don't miss this opportunity to travel to the heart of Central Asia, a vital region brimming with history and energy.
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Marshall I. Goldman is the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Professor of Russian Economics, Emeritus, at Wellesley College. An expert on the Russian economy and the economics of high technology, he was a member of the Wellesley faculty from 1958 to 2002. He is also senior scholar of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. He is the author of over a dozen books on the former Soviet Union and Russia, including his forthcoming book, Petrostate: Putin, Power, and the New Russia.
Merle Goldman is Professor Emerita of Chinese History at Boston University. She is the author of several books on modern Chinese history and culture, including Sowing the Seeds of Democracy in China and From Comrade to Citizen: The Struggle for Political Rights in China. She also co-authored China: A New History. She is an associate of the Fairbanks Center for Climate Studies at Harvard University. |
