About this title: The Silk Road, the great trans-Asian highway linking Imperial Rome to China, reached the height of its importance during the T'ang Dynasty. Along it travelled precious cargoes as well as new ideas, art and knowledge. Its oasis towns blossomed into thriving centres of trade. However, as the Chinese lost control of the region, it began to decline to the point where the towns disappeared beneath desert sands. Local legends grew of buried treasure guarded by demons. This is the story of the intrepid adventurers who, at great personal risk, led long-range archaeological raids to the region in the ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date published: 1984
ISBN-13:9780192814876ISBN:0192814877
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: University of Massachusetts
Date published: 1st thus, 1984
Description: Very Good soft cover. 12mo, soft cover, 252pp, illus. edgewear, corners curled, scratches, scrapes, cover. corners bumped, light yellowing edges, clean and tight text. american museum seal title page. travel. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: John Murray, London
Date published: 2006
Description: 8vo. original printed paper wraps (texter mark to tail edge); pp. xii, 252, [4 (pubs. advts. )], with 13 plates & 2 maps. A fine copy, as new. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Readers Union, London
Date published: 1981
Description: VG/VG-. 8vo. original brown textured paper boards gilt (spine a little slanted, some rubbing) in dustwrapper (rubbed with slight wear at spine ends); pp. xii (last blank), 252, with 22 plates & 2 maps. A very good copy. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: John Murray, London
Date published: 1985
Description: F-/F-. 8vo. original cream textured paper boards gilt in dustwrapper (slightly rubbed); pp. xii (last blank), 252, with 22 plates & 2 maps. A near fine copy. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: John Murray, London
Date published: 1982
Description: F-/F-. 8vo. original cream textured paper boards gilt (a few slight marks) in dustwrapper (slightly rubbed, trifle fade to lettering on spine); pp. xii (last blank), 252, with 22 plates & 2 maps. A near fine copy. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: John Murray, London
Date published: 1985
Description: F/F. 8vo. original cream textured paper boards gilt in dustwrapper; pp. xii (last blank), 252, with 22 plates & 2 maps. A fine copy. read more
Description: New. Please note that deliveries to addresses in the UK and Europe will be in 4-14 business days. Other countries should refer to Alibris standard times. ISBN10: 0719564484. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Murray HIll Books, London
Date published: 1980
ISBN-13:9780719537387ISBN:071953738X
Description: Near Fine in Near Fine jacket. 252pgs. Cream white boards, Bright gilt lettering on spine. slight toning to bottom edges, othewise as new. photos throughout. Unclipped jacket is birght creased on lower edge of front panel, with a hint of edgewear on bottom corner. in fresh mylar sleeve. Account of Archaeological raiders of late 19th century seeking tresure of the lost cities of the Silk Road between Ancient China and Imperial Rome. read more
Description: Good. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
"A fascinating story told extremely well. The physical stamina required of these men in conditions of incredible heat and raw landscape is awe inspiring. A perhaps unintended consequence of reading the book was the growing gnawing question, what caused the climate to change and wipe out this rich civilization? Started the book and did not put it down till I finished it; it was that good."
"Compelling history of the Great Game in East Turkestan. Full of square British chins and duplicitous Russians. Check out Sven Hedin - the Pathfinder..."
"Hopkirk's The Great Game is the book that turned me on to Central Asian history, so when I found out that his first book was about the Silk Road I got very excited. Unfortunately the book is actually just about the "archaeologists" who looted the ruins of the Silk Road, rather than about the ancient trade route itself. Worth a read if you are interested in this region, however."
"I don't normally gravitate to stories about archeology, especially so if they do not involve Harrison Ford. This book came to me as one of the lighter, easier reads about the Silk Road, a subject we are focusing on at work. It was well worth the time and an apt primer on turn-of-the-century archeology and ancient China. Like any good bit of non-fiction, this story had me digging through an encyclopedia to understand what else was going on around the globe at the time, to fill in my own history gaps.
What exactly drives a man to head out into a vast desert to dig holes in the ground to find old things? After reading this book I have a great respect for these men who had a great thirst understanding the world. Hopkirk does a fine job in illustrating different personalities and organizing assorted events into one story. The retelling of these many archeological tales into one book is done easily and concisely.
One thing I did not expect was how well populated this barren land was at the time of its exploration. It seemed absurd to me that the archeologists needed to obtain a passport for traipsing through a vast desert, however there were supply chains, villagers, spies, and bandits all around. Though it is arid and treacherous, the Samarkand was an active place. What taints some of the work done by the explorers is that these "foreign devils" did not always find things that were lost. Some artifacts were retrieved from sparsely populated, sometimes guarded, settings. Clearly they did cast a light on a part of the world that was neglected, but it was not entirely forgotten."
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