I. Transcending the modern perspective.
A. Political boundaries, yesterday and today.
B. Misconceptions (?) about the difficulties of travel.
II. Physical Geography; Patterns of Settlement.
A. Mountains.
B. Water.
C. Desert and life at its edge.
D. Climate;vegetation zones: e.g. Mongolia.
E. Ecology and change: The lesson of Lop Nor and Lou-lan.
III. Travel in Eurasia.
A.. Passes and the prevention of passage.1. Getting through the mountains--easier than one might think?B. Means of overland travel.
2. Walls and fortresses.1. The horse.C. Significance of the southern sea routes.
2. The problem of wheeled vehicles.
3. Donkeys and yaks.
4. The Camel.