Empires, the largest political systems of the ancient and early modern world, powerfully transformed the lives of people within and even beyond their frontiers in ways quite different from other, non-imperial societies. Appearing in all parts of the globe
Preface Carla M. Sinopoli and Terence N. DAltroy; Part I. Sources, Approaches, Definitions Kathleen D. Morrison: 1. The shadow empires: imperial state formation along the Chinese-Nomad frontier Thomas J. Barfield; 2. Written on water: designs and dynamics