Synopsis Asia, with its burgeoning ethnically diverse population, soaring economies, and nuclear weapons, is an increasingly important region in the global context. The series, which builds on this complex, dynamic and volatile area, features original works of reference devoted to the countries of the region providing an innovative research material on the region as a whole or on the countries. Its scope extends to scholarly works drawing on history, politics, sociology and economics of individual countries from the region. In terms of theory and method, rather than basing itself on any one orthodoxy, the series draws broadly on the insights germane to area studies. This thematically organized reference work is a rare collection of detailed volume that ‘concentrate on civilizations that arose east of the Caspian Sea,” from modern Afghanistan and the Aral sea south to India and Sri Lanka and East to Japan, Korea, and the islands of Southeast Asia. A Sound companion for any serious study of the Asian History, this is a good beginning point for research, especially in regard to the development of these countries and their social structures. The series is quite suitable for most public and academic library collections and for all those colleges with a focus on world or ancient history.