The Empire of the Qara Khitai in Eurasian History: Between China and the Islamic World

The empire of the Qara Khitai, one of the least known dynasties in the history of Central Asia, existed for nearly a century before it was conquered by the Mongols in 1218. Arriving in Central Asia from China, the Qara Khitai ruled over a mostly Muslim population. Their history affords a unique window onto the cross-cultural contacts between China, Inner Asian nomads and the Muslim world. Using Muslim and Chinese sources, Michal Biran writes about the legacy of the Qara Khitai. She considers their political, institutional and cultural histories to explore a range of topics including the organisation of the army, the position of the women and the religions of the Qara Khitai. Crucially she asks why they did not, unlike their predecessors and successors, embrace Islam. The book represents a groundbreaking contribution to the field of Eurasian history for students of the Islamic world, China and Central Asia.