The West Uighur Kingdom on the Silk Road

Drawing on multilingual and cross-regional historical and archaeological materials, this book uses an interdisciplinary approach to reconstruct the historical landscape of the Western Uighur Kingdom along the eastern Silk Road from the 9th to 13th centuries.

In pre-modern times, the Silk Road connected Chinese civilisation with major world civilisations, with the Western Regions at their crossroads. The ancestors of the various ethnic groups in this region were responsible for maintaining the Silk Road and facilitating cultural exchange between East and West. The Western Uighur Kingdom, which was established in the eastern Tianshan region, played a pivotal role in this trade between the 9th and 13th centuries. This study explores the origins and development of the kingdom through multiple lenses, covering political processes, ethnic identity, urban development, and cultural heritage. It argues that the inheritance of the Tang Dynasty’s legacy by the West Uighurs was one of the key factors in sustaining and developing the Silk Road. This work makes a significant contribution to Silk Road studies and the history of the Western Regions, addressing gaps in previous historical narratives.

It is essential reading for historians, scholars, and students interested in Central Asian history, Silk Road studies, Turkology, Altaistics, and the history and ethnology of ethnic groups in northwestern China.