The early trade in silk was carried on against incredible odds by great caravans of merchants and animals traveling at a snail"s pace over some of the most inhospitable territory on earth. For today"s traveler it is not only the weight of history that makes the Silk Road so intriguing, but the incredible diversity of scenery and ethnic people along the way. This book is the authoritative guide to travel in the region, with comprehensive, practical sections together with an informed historical perspective. Special essays examine such topics as the Great Game of espionage in Central Asia and Genghis Khan"s "Golden Horde".