The Aralo-Caspian Sea-General Outlines of Central Asia-The Aral Sea -The Ust Urt-The Chink-Historical Allusions-Sir Henry Raw- linson's Theory-Ancient Course of the Oxus-The Amou of the Pre- Early Inhabitants-Scythians-Under Darius and Xerxes-Mount Imaus -Margiana-Bactria-Sogdiana-Alexander's Campaigns-Sikun- der Zulkarnain-The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom-The Parthians-The Scytho-Chinese Domination-The Sassanides-Ardesheer, Hormuz, Feroze, Kobad, Nousheerwan, Khosroo Purvez, Yezdijerd—Arab Con- Mawaralnahr in the 10th century-Bokhara-Samarkand-Khwarezm— The Ghuz-Ibn Mohalhal's Travels-The Samanides-The Ghuznee- vides-The Seljook Dynasty-Alp Arslan-Malek Shah-Sanjar- Origin of the Moghuls-Chinghiz Khan-Conquest of Northern China— Massacre of Tatar Envoys at Otrar-Reduction of Otrar-Defeat and Flight of Mohammed Shah-Capture of Bokhara-Capture of Samar- kand, Termedh, Balkh, Talikhan, Merv, Nishapoor, Herat, and Ur- ghunj-Death of Chinghiz-His Yasak or Code-Batou Khan's Irrup- tion into Europe-The Moghul Empire-Papal Missions to the Great Khan-Reply of Kuyouk Khan-Mangou Khan's Rebuke-Mission of William de Rubruquis-Tatar Customs-The Moghul Court at Kara- CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. GENERAL OUTLINE, The Aralo-Caspian Sea-General Outlines of Central Asia-The Aral Sea -The Ust Urt―The Chink-Historical Allusions-Sir Henry Rawlinson's Theory-Ancient Course of the Oxus-The Amou of the Present Day-The Jaxartes, or Syr-The Caspian Sea CHAPTER II. EARLY HISTORY. .. Early Inhabitants-Scythians-Under Darius and Xerxes-Mount Imaus -Margiana-Bactria-Sogdiana-Alexander's Campaigns-Sikunder Zulkarnain-The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom-The Parthians-The Scytho-Chinese Domination-The Sassanides-Ardesheer, Hormuz, Feroze, Kobad, Nousheerwan, Khosroo Purvez, Yezdijerd—Arab Conquest-Justinian and Dizabulus-Embassy of Zemarchus CHAPTER III. Mawaralnahr in the 10th century-Bokhara-Samarkand-Khwarezm- .. PAGE . 1-21 22-45 46-66 CHAPTER IV. THE MOGHULS. Origin of the Moghuls—-Chinghiz Khan-Conquest of Northern ChinaMassacre of Tatar Envoys at Otrar-Reduction of Otrar-Defeat and Flight of Mohammed Shah-Capture of Bokhara-Capture of Samarkand, Termedh, Balkh, Talikhan, Merv, Nishapoor, Herat, and Urghunj-Death of Chinghiz-His Yasak or Code-Batou Khan's Irruption into Europe-The Moghul Empire-Papal Missions to the Great Khan-Reply of Kuyouk Khan-Mangou Khan's Rebuke-Mission of William de Rubruquis-Tatar Customs-The Moghul Court at Karakoram .. 67-95 |