When neweurasia‘s Chris returned from his tour in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, he remarked to me that he was surprised so many people there were curious to know his religion, Bahaiism. Other Westerners have had the …

Alpamysh rides to the Kalmak camp, where he confronts the impetuous and violent Karajan for the first time, and some of the spiritual power behind the Hero’s quest is revealed. An argument ensues and a mortal challenge is made. neweurasia’s Paksoy’s translations of the ancient Turkic epic continues!

The story’s brave central character, Alpamysh, finally appears. He intends to intervene in the war for Barchin, but before he can do that, he must complete a key rite of passage — capturing his steed. neweurasia’s Paksoy’s translations of the ancient Turkic epic continues!

The ambassadors of Taysha Khan and Karajan return and try to spin Barchin’s deferral in favor of their masters, but matters quickly backfire and war soon erupts, leaving many casualties in its wake. neweurasia’s Paksoy’s translations of the ancient Turkic epic continues!

To commemorate the Christmas and New Year season, neweurasia is publishing an English translation of the ancient Turkic epic, the Alpamysh, translated by our resident scholar, H.B. Paksoy. In this, the fourth instalment of a huge post series, Baysari Bay is confronted with choosing the fate of his daughter’s heart.

To commemorate the Christmas and New Year season, neweurasia is publishing an English translation of the ancient Turkic epic, the Alpamysh, translated by our resident scholar, H.B. Paksoy. In this, the third instalment of a huge post series, two powerful men vying for Barchin’s hand in marriage agree on a bet of sorts…

To commemorate the Christmas and New Year season, neweurasia is publishing an English translation of the ancient Turkic epic, the Alpamysh, translated by our resident scholar, H.B. Paksoy. This is the second part of a huge post series that shall extend into 2011.

Today is the winter solstice, an important moment in many ancient traditions. neweurasia’s H.B. Paksoy, a distinguished scholar of Turkic studies, is commemorating the solstice, and the turn of the new year, with an original translation of the Alpamysh epic. This is the first part of a huge new post series that will last into 2011.

Is the “return of Islam” part of a deeper drive for national and regional self-determination, or worse, the yearning for revenge against corrupt post-Soviet systems of authority? neweurasia’s Paksoy, an Oxford-educated scholar, gives his two somoni in response to an earlier post by neweurasia’s Averroes.

To commemorate the coming new year, neweurasia is looking heavenward to gaze into Central Asia’s past, present, and future. H.B. Paksoy (D. Phil., Oxford University) and neweurasia’s Schwartz ask: how can Mars help us understand Central Asian identity?