Vybrané aspekty kulturního vývoje Asie a Afriky

Tato publikace byla vydána díky finanční podpoře v rámci projektu Studentská vědecká konference, č. SVK1-2015-013.Asia and Africa represent a vast territory which in course of their long historical development displays an astonishing range of local cultures and traditions. The individual cultures were often linked together and their interaction could have many forms. The civilizations that flourished in various regions of Asia and Africa during the long historical development of that territory exhibit a wide range of cultural traditions that are evident in various types of sources: in texts of economic, administrative, literary, religious and scientific nature as well as in three-dimensional objects such as tools, utensils or works of art. Ancient Asian and African civilizations have been a traditional object of the scientific research which enabled the specialists to outline the main features of individual local cultures as well as to compare cultural traditions of Asian and African countries with those of other regions of the world. The present developments that heavily influence not only the Asian and African countries today, but have also an impact on the future of this territory root firmly in the local cultural traditions that are often traceable in the distant past. Therefore, the detailed and complex study of the history of ancient Asian and African civilizations within the context of their contacts to other cultural areas can contribute greatly to a better understanding ot the modern history of Asian and African countries. The monograph Vybrané aspekty kulturního vývoje Asie a Afriky [Selected Aspects of the Cultural Development of Asia and Africa] presents the results of 15 specific projects of scholars who are studying various aspects of the development of the material and intellectual culture of Asia and Africa during the long time span reaching from the Antiquity until modern times. Members of the team represent several scientific institutions from the Czech Republic as well as from Slovakia. Among scholars who participated in the research projects, we find historians, archaeologists, linguists, and other specialists. The book is divided into three chapters devoted to following subjects: 1. Religion and languages 2. Politics and history 3. Contacts between West and East. We hope that this book will be useful for those who are interested in the historical development and the rich cultural heritage of Asian and African countries