The famous author Rudyard Kipling once wrote, "East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." Yet they have met in the Eurasian people, blending cultures and world views profoundly alien to each other. From the surprising blend of flavours in Eurasian cuisine to their distinctive language and customs, synthesis and fusion are the keywords that define the Eurasian people, long before the concept was popularised by the rise of the global village. What does it mean to be Eurasian? Bridging the traditional divide between East and West, the Eurasian people are able to draw on an unmatched wealth of traditions for inspiration in the arts and cuisine. Join us on a voyage of discovery as we explore the rich and unique heritage of a true world culture in this part of the Asiapac Culture series!

Did you know that India is the birthplace of four religions--Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism? The Indian culture is a spicy blend of customs, traditions, religions and languages, not just derived from its diverse states, but also from its Muslim and European rulers. The home of the Himalayas, the Taj Mahal and the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, this country has contributed to arts, science and world cuisine significantly. As part of the Asiapac Culture series, this book offers a glimpse at the origins of the Indian people and their religious and social customs. You can find out about the different gods that Hindus pray to, why Sikhs wear a turban and the reasons for celebrating Deepavali. This is the book to read if you would like a quick guide to Indian culture and many aspects of their lives.

Have you ever wondered what life was like in a Malay kampong in the old days? Or why practically all your Malay friends are Muslims? Well, the Malay culture is just one of the many cultures that have developed through the centuries. Although it originated in Peninsula Malaya, it has spread throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. Most Malays are Muslims and live their lives guided by teachings found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. As part of the Asiapac Culture series, this book offers an overall look at the various aspects of this colourful culture. It covers topics such as the history of the people, their lifestyle, religious and cultural activities, culinary practices, etc. Such knowledge is essential in promoting mutual understanding and respect. So, if you want to learn more about this fascinating culture, this is the book to read!

Here in the beautiful Singapore, we live in harmony. Regardless of the different races, religions and customs, we are able to grow and prosper in peace. But, how much do you know about your classmates and neighbours? What do you know about the traditions of your own community? Find out more about yourself and your friends as you open the Gateway to Singapore Culture - a superb introductory read for locals and visitors alike!

There is more to the culture than what's cooking in the peroh rumah, or kitchen. For instance, have you ever wondered why they speak the way they do? And what is the big deal about cherki games? Why are they always singing the dondang sayang? And, more importantly, what does it mean to be a Peranakan?

Here in the beautiful Singapore, we live in harmony. Regardless of the different races, religions and customs, we are able to grow and prosper in peace. But, how much do you know about your classmates and neighbours? What do you know about the traditions of your own community? Find out more about yourself and your friends as you open the Gateway to Singapore Culture - a superb introductory read for locals and visitors alike!

Here, in beautiful Singapore, we live in harmony. Regardless of our different races, religions and customs, we are able to grow and prosper in peace. But, how much do you really know about your classmates and neighbours? What do you know about the traditions of your own community? Find out more about yourself and your friends as you open the Gateway to Singapore Culture!

Have you ever wonder about the significance of the various vibrant festivals celebrated by the Chinese people every year, or why the Chinese eat with their Chopsticks? Or how did the intricate characters of their written language come to be? Ancient Chinese thinkers like Confucius and Sun-zi have left their mark on the Chinese Culture, but who were they? And with the Chinese cuisine that is available in Chinese restaurants all across the world, there's hardly any needs for introductions! Join us on a tour of the ancient and colourful Chinese culture in this part of this Montage Culture Series! First published in 2003, this book is in its 11th reprint in 2013. ISBN: 9789812293282 Page Count: 166 Year Published: 2003 Language: English

Since the first millennium BCE, nomads of the Eurasian steppe have played a key role in world history and the development of adjacent sedentary regions, especially China, India, the Middle East, and Eastern and Central Europe. Although their more settled neighbors often saw them as an ongoing threat and imminent danger—“barbarians,” in fact—their impact on sedentary cultures was far more complex than the raiding, pillaging, and devastation with which they have long been associated in the popular imagination. The nomads were also facilitators and catalysts of social, demographic, economic, and cultural change, and nomadic culture had a significant influence on that of sedentary Eurasian civilizations, especially in cases when the nomads conquered and ruled over them. Not simply passive conveyors of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and physical artifacts, nomads were frequently active contributors to the process of cultural exchange and change. Their active choices and initiatives helped set the cultural and intellectual agenda of the lands they ruled and beyond. This volume brings together a distinguished group of scholars from different disciplines and cultural specializations to explore how nomads played the role of “agents of cultural change.” The beginning chapters examine this phenomenon in both east and west Asia in ancient and early medieval times, while the bulk of the book is devoted to the far flung Mongol empire of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This comparative approach, encompassing both a lengthy time span and a vast region, enables a clearer understanding of the key role that Eurasian pastoral nomads played in the history of the Old World. It conveys a sense of the complex and engaging cultural dynamic that existed between nomads and their agricultural and urban neighbors, and highlights the non-military impact of nomadic culture on Eurasian history. Nomads as Agents of Cultural Change illuminates and complicates nomadic roles as active promoters of cultural exchange within a vast and varied region. It makes available important original scholarship on the new turn in the study of the Mongol empire and on relations between the nomadic and sedentary worlds.