Encyclopedia of Ancient Asian Civilizations

The introduction surveys the major civilizational zones of Asia and identifies key markers of civilization: temples, roads, canals, reservoirs, tombs, writing, elite rule, taxation, agricultural surplus, administration, and long-distance trade. It distinguishes indigenous developments such as the Indus Valley civilization and early Chinese civilization from secondary civilizations influenced by India, China, the Silk Road, and maritime trade networks. The main body is arranged alphabetically from A to Z. Entries cover sites and topics such as Abhayagiri, Anurādhapura, Angkor, Bodh Gaya, Borobudur, Dvāravatī, Funan, Gandhāra, Harappa, Mohenjo Daro, Nalanda, Pagan, Sanchi, Taxila, and many others. The book also includes regional maps of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East and Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, and Southeast Asian islands, followed by a chronology, bibliography, and index.