What a fascinating place mideveal Asia was! Europe was certainly not the place to be from about 600-1500 AD/CE, but it was an excellent time to be in Asia. During Europe's Dark Ages, glass making, silk, cotton, sophisticated trade, the rise of new religions, and the invention of zero were just a few of the things going on east of the Ural mountains.
I've been reading When Asia was the World by Stewart Gordon in preparation for studying Persia, India and China with the kids. The book follows the memoirs of a different traveler in each chapter, giving plenty of backround information about the greater historical context. I love it! I must warn any who pick it up--it is history, not fiction. It does not read like Devil in the White City (History as a page-turning, heart-thumping thriller). However, it does feel like a whole new fantastic world. There is so much out there we just never get to in standard History survey courses. All of Asian history is like a great big epic I've never heard of before. Lots of place names are new and almost all ancient historical figures are unfamiliar. New History, what fun.
PS The link embedded in the title will take you to Amazon, not because I'm urging any purchases, but because the look inside feature gives a chance to peruse the first few pages.
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