Ancient Civilizations of Afghanistan

""This beautifully illustrated and clearly written survey of the archaeology and early history of Afghanistan places it where it belongs--at the center of world events and not its periphery. Anyone seeking a sophisticated introduction to this complex field of study should begin here first.""--Thomas Barfield, professor at Boston University and author of ""Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History"" ""Through page-turning prose and eye-popping pictures, Ball brings to life the sophistication and splendor of the distant Afghan past. After fifty years of archaeological research, his infectious enthusiasm remains as strong as ever. An authoritative and evocative introduction.""--Nile Green, author of ""Empire's Son, Empire's Orphan: The Fantastical Lives of Ikbal and Idries Shah"" ""In his hallmark lucid style, Ball sets out a magisterial sweep of the cultures that thrived across Afghanistan. He provides a fascinating exposition of how Buddhism and then Islam emerged and merged as a continuum in Afghanistan's cultural evolution across the centuries.""--Diana Darke, author of ""Islamesque: The Forgotten Craftsmen Who Built Europe's Medieval Monuments"" and ""The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy""