Central Asia has been a crossroads of world and religious history for two millennia. Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols, Turkic peoples, and Russians have all had their realms here. Fire worshippers, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, and Muslims have shaped the culture of the region. After the October Revolution, the Soviets established the five republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, which became independent states in 1991. For many Europeans, these countries remain terra incognita to this day. However, with the project of a new Silk Road, tourism is noticeably revitalizing. Thomas Kunze describes the history, present, and possible future of the region, along with an insightful look into the everyday lives of its people.