The scope of the course allows only summary treatment of some of the most important political entities. An effort will be made to provide guidance through the political maze by use of various chronological tables. To a considerable degree, examination of a single state among many or a handful of cities among a multitude can provide an understanding of basic themes and processes. The course will be challenging both for the student and the instructor. Another challenge to which students should be alerted is the fact this course is being offered for the first time.
Most courses improve significantly the second or third time around.
It is especially important, therefore, that students not hesitate to raise questions about that which may be unclear and provide feedback along the way as to what improvements might be made. Probably the best single source of information and pictures for the Silk Road is the Silk Road Foundation site, where one can find some historical sketches, a detailed time-line, pictures of the Buddhist art in the Mogao caves, and much more. For many historical topics and for primary source texts and images, the single best access point is the Internet Medieval Sourcebook. Of particular relevance to this course are its links for Islam and for East Asia History . Week I .