The 2006-2007 Silk Road Lecture Series at the University of Washington

May 10, 2006, 7:00 pm, Kane Hall 110
University of Washington Seattle campus

Secrets of Tamerlane’s Tomb
by
Robert D. McChesney
New York University

About the lecture:

Tamerlane’s tomb, the Gur-i Amir in Samarkand, has been a subject of fascination and speculation since its initial construction in 1404. The great domed tomb complex has undergone numerous changes in the past half millennium and those changes have helped spark legends and stories of its secrets and mysteries. Based on long extant as well as recently discovered evidence, this illustrated talk will trace the evolution of the tomb and the stories about it from its founding until its emergence in the late 20th century as an iconic symbol of the modern Uzbek government.

About the speaker:

R. D. McChesney is Professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and History at New York University. He is the author of Waqf in Central Asia (1991), Central Asia: Foundations of Change (1996) and Kabul Under Siege (1999) as well as numerous articles on the social and economic history of the eastern Persianate world.

The previous lectures in the series this year were:

• Chinese Art in a Persian Mirror: Artistic Production under Yongle and Shahrukh, ca. 1420-1450, by David Roxburgh, History of Art and Architecture, Harvard University
• Babur, a Renaissance Prince in Central Asia, by Stephen Dale, History, Ohio State University
• The Monks of Kublai Khan: Christianity under the Mongols, Joel Walker,

All lectures are free and open to the public.

The lectures are made possible with funding from the Silkroad Foundation and the following University of Washington sponsors: the Simpson Center for the Humanities; the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies; the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization; the Division of Art History, School of Art; the Department of History; and the Department of Asian Languages and Literature.

Kane Hall is located on the University of Washington campus in Seattle and is best accessed from the underground parking garage whose entrance is on 15th Avenue NE at 42nd Street. There is a fee for parking.

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University of Washington
Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilization

19th Annual Nicholas Poppe Symposium on Central/Inner Asian Studies

Saturday, May 12, 2007
8:30 am-5:30 pm
Denny Hall 215

Program

8:30-9:00 Coffee, Tea and Refreshments

9:00-9:10 Welcome Address: Ilse Cirtautas, "Remembering Nicholas Poppe"

9:10-9:35 "Environmental Issues in the Altai Region," Kathleen Braden, Seattle Pacific University

9:35-9:45 Discussion

9:45:10:10 "Endangered Animals and other Environmental Issues in Kyrgyzstan," Yevgeniy Kashkarov, Altai State University. Visiting Scholar, University of Washington (2006-2007)

10:10-10:20 Discussion

10:20-10:45 "Political Situation in Kyrgyzstan: From Bad to Worse," Vitaly Nishanov, University of Washington

10:45-10:55 Discussion

10:55-11:20 "Conceiving Anthropomorphism in Eurasian Image Stones: Okunev, Early Nomadic, Early Pontic and Scythian Stelae," Katrina Swendseid-Ang, Independent Scholar, Eugene, Oregon

11:20-11:30 Discussion

11:30-11:55 "Alisher Nava'i (1441-1501) in Contemporary Uzbek Literature," Ilse Cirtautas, University of Washington

11:55-12:05 Discussion

12:05 -1:25 Lunch

1:25-1:50 "Such Classic Ground: Remembering Alexander the Great in 19th Century Afghanistan," Stefan Kamola, University of Washington

1:50-2:00 Discussion

2:00-2:25 "Traditional Medicine in Central Asia: Contributions, Interactions, and Contemporary Practice in Xinjiang," Brenda Schuster, University of Washington

2:25-2:35 Discussion

2:35-3:00 "Observance of Everyday Customs and Traditions Among Uighurs," Hamit Zakir, University of Washington

3:00-3:10 Discussion

3:10-3:25 Coffee/Tea Break

3:25-3:50 "Roles and Realities for a Bride in a Kyrgyz Household," Maureen Pritchard, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

3:50-4:00 Discussion

4:00-4:25 "The American University of Central Asia in Bishkek: 1993-2007," Ludmila Konstants, Fulbright Scholar, American University of Central Asia, Bishkek

4:25-4:35 Discussion

4:35-5:00 "Teaching Experiences in Uzbekistan," Charles Carlson, National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent

5:00-5:10 Discussion

5:10-5:30 Closing Remarks

Denny Hall is at the north end of the main University of Washington campus in Seattle. Parking (for a fee on Saturday mornings) is available via the NE 45h St. entrance at 17th Ave. NE.