The Tibetan empire in central Asia: a history of the struggle for great power among Tibetans, Turks, Arabs and Chinese during the early Middle Ages (review)

194 Short notices the idea of Crusade (1977), one feels that Alphandery and Dupront probably never will be now. John H. Pryor Department of History University of Sydney Atti del Convegno "Strevi nel millenio" 991-1991, Alessandria, Comune di Strevi, 1991; paper; pp. 166; numerous colour and monochrome plates (not numbered); R.R.P. ? This attractive publication celebrates the millenium of the oldest known reference to the small town of Strevi (Septebrium) in the province of Alessandria. It contains a number of papers of interest to medievalists including "II monachesimo nella diocesi di Acqui", "Strevi tra acquesi ed alessandrini nei secoli XII-XIII", "II culto di San Bovo in Strevi", and "In margine al dibattito sui nome di Strevi". However, the most important study consists of the Latin text and an Italian translation of "La carta di fondazione e donazione dell'abbazia di San Quintino in Spigno—4 maggio 991", in which Strevi is mentioned for thefirsttime (as Septeuro). John H. Pryor Department of History University of Sydney Beckwith, Christopher I., The Tibetan empire in central Asia: a history o the strugglefor great power among Tibetans, Turks, Arabs and Chinese during the early Middle Ages, 4th printing, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1993; paper; pp. xxii, 281; 2 maps; R.R.P. U S $ ? As Professor Beckwith says in the Afterword which has been added to the paperback edition of this book, ' . . . the total number of "specialists" in early medieval Central Asian history probably does not exceed a dozen worldwide' (and this reviewer is certainly not one of them). One might wonder, therefore, why such a book has m n through two additional printings in hard cover and now a paperback edition since it was first published in 1987? The answer is, simply, that the subject is compelling. What we are presented with is the virtually unknown rise and decline of a Tibetan-based 'empire' in south-central Asia between thefirstnotice of a Tibetan lord by the name of Stagbu sha gzigs (ante seventh century) to the execution of Short notices •, ge Blon Gun B'zer by a rival Tibetan general in 866. In the intervening two and a half centuries, a dynamic Tibetan empire under the Yarlung dynasty, from Khri sron brtsan (614-41) to K r i W dum brtsan (838^12), established and extended Tibetan power to challenge the Chinese in the east, the Uighurs in the north, and the Muslims in the West. To almost everyone this is unknown history and it is all the more fascinating for that. This is a book that is not easy to use. In spite of the author's efforts to assist by providing specialist appendices on five topics, a table of rulers, a glossary, and asterisks in the text to facilitate access to explanations in the footnotes, most readers will still flounder in a sea of personal and place names. To some degree this is not the author's fault. There are simply too many names unfamiliar to most readers which cannot be avoided. However, in a paperback edition destined for the general public a separate annotated glossary of the major personal and place names would have been invaluable. So also would have been many more detailed maps. The two which are supplied are of very poor quality and are almost totally useless. These difficulties should not, however, dissuade anyone interested from dipping into this book. They will learn much that they did not know. John H. Pryor Department of History University of Sydney Carlton, Charles, Going to the wars: the experience of the British Civil Wars, 1638-1651, London and N.Y., Routledge, 1994; rpt; paper; pp. xii, 428; 22 illustrations; R.R.P. AUS$38.95. W e can welcome the appearance in paperback of Charles Carlton's study of the experience of the British Civil Wars. Sensitively written, deeply grounded in archival sources, and an impressive feat of organization, it analyses those wars from the total human perspective of the new military history. It is thus a moving memorial to the men, women, and children who found themselves caught up in civil conflict made more bitter by the ingredient of religion. It is all here: the hardship...