Political conquests in this region-- the establishment of Turkish empires in the 6th and 7th centuries BC, the invasion of Genghis Khan, and eventual incorporation into Russia in the 18th century--have resulted in Central Asia's multi-ethnic culture. In 1991, the region's five Soviet socialist Republics were returned their independence.
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The Formless Empire : A Short History of Diplomacy and Warfare in Central Asia by 
