It was along the Silk Road that East and West first encountered each other. From the rise and fall of empires to the spread of Buddhism and the arrival of Christianity and Islam, right through to the great wars of the twentieth century, this book shows how the fate of the West has always been inextricably linked with the East. The author offers a broadening perspective on history, turning his gaze to the region located midway between East and West, stretching from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean to the Black Sea and the Himalayas. He tells us about the value of the Silk Road, the importance of connections between Europe and Asia, and the contributions of Asian countries to science, culture, and global development. Drawing on historical evidence, the author explains what led to the large-scale migration of Central Asians to Europe, and predicts future global shifts in foreign policy and the demise of the Eurocentric world. This reprint, edited by Kirill Istomin, aims to correct the inaccuracies of the previous book. A meticulous approach, it deserves urgent and in-depth rereading. Far more than a history of the Silk Road, this book is a truly revealing new history of the world, promising to destabilize notions of where we came from and where we are going next.