This posthumously published work by Dr Ken Gardiner who taught ancient and early medieval Chinese history at the Australian National University for nearly three decades, is a fascinating account of relations between Qin and Han dynasties China and various states in the Eurasian Steppe, forged through war and diplomacy. 

The author's access to a broad range of primary and secondary sources in Classical and modern languages, including Latin, Classical Chinese and Japanese and cross-disciplinary approach, combing history, archaeology, philosophy, mythology, art, literature and philology, has enabled him to examine the complex integratory processes, unleashed by early East-West contacts, with extraordinary sophistication.

Some of the topics that this book analyses and addresses are: image of central Asian peoples in Chinese myths and legends; role of Zhang Qian, envoy of Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141-87 BCE) to Central Asian states, in expanding the frontier of Chinese knowledge about the Western region; penetration of Han China into the oasis kingdoms of the Tarim basin, and further west to Parthia and Mesopotamia, in search of the celebrated "blood-sweating horses," grapes and even slaves;  and Han China's domination of central Asia through its frontier policy of 'divide et impera,' disintegration of Xiongnu Confederation and military campaign against Shanyu Zhizhi in 36 BCE.