David Chaffetz: “Raiders, Rulers and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires”

David Chaffetz in his book traces the role of horses in empire building from the Danube to the Yellow River, from their early domestication in pre-history up to a bozkashi match in Kabul in 1973. His view is that, given the constant trading in horses for military or banditry purposes between Iran, Central Asia, India and China, the Silk Road should properly be called the Horse Road. Silk was just the currency.

David Chaffetz is an independent scholar who has travelled in Asia for more than forty years. He is also the author of A Journey through Afghanistan and Three Asian Divas: Women, Art and Culture in Shiraz, Delhi and Yangzhou.

This is a joint lecture with the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Registration is required.