Along the Silk Road. Asian Art and Culture, Vol. 6,
edited by Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis, is a richly illustrated book published by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution. Part of a series, it includes Yo-Yo Ma's insights into contemporary music and the Silk Road. Other contributors include an ethnomusicologist, an archaeologist, a photographer, a scientist, and two art historians.

The Silk Road: From Xi'an to Kashgar
Bonavia, Judy
Hong Kong: Odyssey Publications, Ltd. 1999
out of print, look for used

This travel guide with a historic perspective provides a straightforward and engaging overview of the Silk Road's complex past. Fascinating excerpts from works of literature, history, anthropology, and archeology bring the lands of the Silk Road to life. The guide also features maps, photographs, illustrations and travel tips.

Turkish Traditional Art Today
Glassie, Henry
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1993

This collection of intimate portraits of calligraphers, woodworkers, weavers, potters and carpet-makers is a good introduction to modern Turkey as well as a comprehensive analysis of the long tradition of Islamic art. The author presents contemporary arts and artists of Turkey, with sections on Istanbul, Anatolia, Kutahya, and Canakkale using the methodologies of anthropology, cultural geography and art history in an effort to depict each artist's theories and practices.

When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne 1405-1433
Levanthes, Louise
Oxford University Press (Reprint edition), 1997

In the years between 1405 and 1433, fleets of Chinese ships under the command of Admiral Zheng He (pronounced "Jeng Huh") made seven epic voyages through the China seas and across the Indian Ocean carrying fine porcelains, silk, lacquerware, and other goods. Louise Levathes’ excellent book relates these amazing voyages of "treasure ships" and why they were suspended, ending China’s supremacy in fifteenth-century world maritime technology.

The Hundred Thousand Fools of God: Musical Travels in Central Asia
Levin, Theodore
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1996

In this spectacular journey through Transoxiana, the region encompassing the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the author's descriptions of the musical traditions of the area provide the framework for a richly textured discussion of history, religion and life experience under Soviet rule. Includes maps, an extensive glossary of relevant terms, and a CD with 23 illustrative recordings.

The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of the Earliest People from the West
Mallory, J.P. and Victor H. Mair
London and New York: Thames & Hudson, 2000

This ravishingly illustrated volume describes the dozens of extremely well-preserved Bronze Age and Iron Age mummies from sites around the southern and eastern rim of the Tarim Basin, which is filled by the Täklimaken Desert, one of the largest and driest deserts in the world. The authors provide in-depth discussions concerning the languages, textiles, genetics and overall cultural affinities of these earliest-known denizens who lived at the center of the Silk Road. Includes extensive bibliographic references.

The Golden Peaches of Samarkand: A Study of T'Ang Exotics
Schafer, Edward
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985

This scholarly work catalogues tribute goods sent to China's T'ang Court from all over Asia. The author identifies items including plants, animals, perfumes, books, drugs and jewels based on extant writings of Asian and European cultures. Evocative descriptions, anecdotes, and stories draw readers into the splendid and turbulent history of T'ang Dynasty China.

Life Along the Silk Road
Whitfield, Susan
London: John Murray Publishers, Ltd., 1999

This entertaining volume traces the life stories of ten individuals who lived along the Silk Road during the 10th century. The author uses archeological data and ancient Silk Road manuscripts to recreate the lives of merchants, courtesans, musicians and military men in intimate detail. Her well-informed portraits reveal diverse aspects of ordinary life along the Silk Road.

From Manchuria to Tibet
Wong, How Man
New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1998

National Geographic photojournalist How Man Wong reveals a quarter century of explorations of the hinterlands of Asia in this richly illustrated volume. Engaging photographs and anecdotes highlight the diversity and interconnectedness of the ethnic groups residing between Manchuria and the Tibetan Plateau. Includes detailed topographic and ethnographic maps as well as an index and glossary of ethnic groups, geographic areas, and wildlife.