Persianate World: The Frontiers of a Eurasian Lingua Franca

Persian is a Eurasian language that has been a great lingua franca of world history, but its scope, impact, and mechanisms remain underexplored. This book explores how Persian gained, maintained, and surrendered its status to imperial and vernacular competitors, and fourteen essays trace Persians interactions with Bengali, Chinese, Turkic, Punjabi, and other languages to identify the forces that extended "Persographia," the domain of written Persian.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 09 April 2019
Publisher: University of California Press

Persian, a remarkable lingua franca that has played a pivotal role in world history, has garnered widespread recognition as a common language across the Islamic world and beyond. However, despite its esteemed status, the full extent of its influence, scope, and mechanisms have yet to be thoroughly explored. In order to delve into the realm of pre-modern cosmopolitanism, The Persianate World presents a comprehensive examination of Persian as a Eurasian language, tracing its geographical, literary, and social boundaries. This book explores the historical trajectory of Persian, from its origins in Siberia to its spread across Southeast Asia, and from the bustling streets of London to the bustling cities of Beijing. It sheds light on how Persian gained, maintained, and ultimately relinquished its dominance to imperial and vernacular competitors.

Spanning a period of expansion and contraction, The Persianate World offers a critical assessment of the factors that shaped the "Persographia," the domain of written Persian. Through fourteen insightful essays, the book delves into the intricate interactions between Persian and other languages, such as Bengali, Chinese, Turkic, Punjabi, and others. These essays serve as a valuable tool for identifying the forces that contributed to the spread and influence of Persian across diverse regions and cultures.

By examining the historical trajectory of Persian, The Persianate World provides a comprehensive understanding of one of history's most influential languages of global exchange. It sheds light on the complexities of language acquisition, preservation, and transformation, highlighting the ways in which languages evolve and adapt to changing circumstances. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural heritage that is woven through the history of the Persianate world.

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 154 x 228 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520300927