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Title: it is what it says it is
Review: This book is exactly what it says it is: a military history of central Asia. And if you read it in that light and are not a specialist in the field, you will probably not be disappointed. Just bear in mind that there were other factors weighing into the eventual demise of the steppe societies besides simply the introduction of modern weaponry. After all, couldn't the steppe peoples have adapted to firearms just as readily as they adapted to siege warfare earlier in their history? But even for warlike societies, wars still have to be financed. It was only after European seaborne trade began eliminating trade along the legendary "silk road", and thus the profits of the central Asian middlemen, that the steppe societies fell into decline. Which does not diminish the overall value of this book. Just be wary of the conclusion.
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