Journals on Silk Road and Central Asian Studies
Ruben S. Nikoghosyan
Whether you are writing a doctoral thesis or looking for a place to publish your paper, being familiar with the journals in your field is essential. Having a list of these journals readily available makes it easier to access their content and find papers that interest you.
A couple of years ago, I published an extensive list of journals on Iranian Studies, which you can access on ASPIRANTUM’s website here.
Recognising a similar need in other fields, I have decided to compile a list of journals dedicated to Silk Road and Central Asian studies, an area I have grown increasingly fond of. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I hope to expand it over time. If you know of any relevant journals, I would be grateful if you could share their names with me (nikoghosyanruben@gmail.com).
1. Central Asiatic Journal
Website || Institution || All Volumes* || Jstor
The Central Asiatic Journal is a fully peer-reviewed publication dedicated to research on the linguistic, cultural, and historical heritage of Central Asia and its historically connected regions. While the primary geographical focus includes Central Asia and its neighboring areas (Mongolia, Turkestan/Xinjiang, Tibet, southern Siberia, and Manchuria), the journal also extends to regions with secondary connections, such as western Asia (Iran and Afghanistan), the Himalayas, China’s Han-majority provinces, and the Pacific fringe (Korea, Japan, and eastern Siberia). Contributions with pre-modern themes are preferred, though historical content up to the late twentieth century is also welcomed.
First published: 1955
Country: –
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Harrassowitz Verlag
Issues per year: 2 issues per year or a double issue
All Volumes: 66
Scope: languages, literature, history and archaeology of Central Asia
Languages: English, German, Chinese
Editor(s): Lars Peter Laamann (SOAS, University of London)
Submit an article: Contributions should be sent by e-mail to the following email address: LL10@soas.ac.uk
*For older volumes see Jstor
2. Asiatische Studien – Études Asiatiques
Website || Institution || All Volumes
The quarterly journal Asiatische Studien / Études Asiatiques is an open-access peer-reviewed journal published by the Swiss Asian Society (Schweizerische Asiengesellschaft). It is dedicated to regional issues on China, the Islamic World, Japan, South or Central Asia as well as general and special issues.
Open access
First published: 1947
Country: Switzerland
Affiliation: Schweizerische Asiengesellschaft
Publisher: De Gruyter
Issues per year: 4
All Volumes: 78
Scope: Islamic Studies, Central Asia, China, Japan, South Asia.
Languages: English, French, German
Editor(s): Rafael Suter (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
3. Journal of Central Asian History
Website || Institution || All Volumes (see Website)
Journal of Central Asian History is a double-blind peer review biannual journal dedicated to the history of Central Asia. It covers the region’s history from the 8th to the 20th century, welcoming articles in English and Russian on various disciplines, including intellectual, environmental, political, and religious history, as well as the history of knowledge production.
JCAH aims to bridge academic traditions like Turkology, Russian/Soviet Studies, and Iranian/Islamic Studies, fostering interdisciplinary and global scholarly exchange. It emphasizes multilingual research using sources in languages such as Arabic, Persian, Russian, Chinese, and others. Contributions may include articles, text editions, and bibliographic resources.
First published: 2022
Country: –
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Brill
Issues per year: 2
Scope: Islamic Central Asia, Iranian Studies, Turkic Studies, Khorezm, Qazaq Steppe, Zungharia, Tarim Basin, intellectual and environmental history, political thought, philosophy, jurisprudence, mysticism, religion, book history, knowledge production, philology, text editions, catalogues, bibliographies, and archival resources.
Languages: English, Russian
Editor: Paolo Sartori (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften)
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4. Acta Via Serica
Website || Institution || All Volumes
Acta Via Serica is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal published biannually in English by Keimyung University in the Republic of Korea. It features research on the arts, humanities, and social sciences related to the Silk Road region and Central Asia.
The journal explores historical and contemporary exchanges of goods, people, and knowledge across the Silk Road, promoting understanding and cooperation between East and West. By examining the religions, cultures, politics, economies, and international relations of Central Asia, it serves as a modern “Silk Road Report,” providing original and impactful insights for academics, policymakers, and the public.
Open access
First published: 2016
Country: Republic of Korea
Affiliation: Academia Via Serica, Keimyung University, Korea
Publisher: Keimyung University
Issues per year: 2
Scope: Silk Roads, China, Central Asia, Geopolitics, History, Inner Asia, Eastern Turkestan
Languages: English
Editor-in-Chief: Juhyung Rhi (Seoul National University, Korea)
5. The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
Website || Institution || All Volumes
The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS), established in 1827, is a prestigious academic journal focusing on Oriental studies, with significant contributions to Central Asian and Silk Road studies. It covers a wide range of areas, including North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Iran, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. JRAS has published many groundbreaking articles over its nearly 200 years of existence.
First published: 1834
Country: UK
Affiliation: Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Issues per year: 4
Scope: Oriental studies; Middle East; Central Asia; Silk Roads; Iranian studies; history, archaeology, literature, philology, cultural studies, religion, art.
Languages: English
Editor-in-Chief: Daud Ali (University of Pennsylvania)
6. The Journal of Inner Asian Art and Archaeology
Website || Institution || All Volumes
The Journal of Inner Asian Art and Archaeology was a peer-reviewed journal that was launched by the Circle of Inner Asian Art (CIAA) to replace their previous Newsletter (1995–2005), continuing its role as a platform for international research on the art and archaeology of Central and Inner Asia. The Journal focused on regions along the ancient Silk Roads, spanning areas from Iran to western China and the Russian steppes to northwestern India, including modern-day countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and parts of China like Xinjiang and Tibet. Its primary emphasis was on pre-Islamic and early Islamic art and archaeology, with additional articles on language and history.
The CIAA, established in 1995 at SOAS, University of London, fosters discussions and information exchange on Inner Asia’s art, archaeology, languages, and history.
First published: 2006
Last Volume: 2017
Country: UK
Affiliation: Circle of Inner Asian Art (CIAA), SOAS
Publisher: Brepols
All volumes: 7
Scope: Inner Asia, Central Asia, Silk Roads, Pre-Islamic Art, Early Islamic Art, Archaeology, Cultural Interchange, History, Languages
Languages: English
Editors: Lilla Russell-Smith; Judith Lerner
Submission instructions
Submit an article
7. Orientations
Website || Institution || All Issues
Orientations is a bimonthly magazine, published since 1969 in Hong Kong and distributed globally, focusing on the arts of East and Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. It features topics ranging from scholarly research to market analysis and news. Initially centered on travel and culture, it has evolved into a scholarly journal on art, architecture, and archaeology.
First published: 1970
Country: Hong Kong, PRC
Affiliation: –
Publisher: OM Publishing
Issues per year: 6
Scope: Asian art, Islamic art, Buddhist art.
Languages: English
Editor: Yifawn Lee
Submission instructions
8. The Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies
Website || Institution || All Volumes
The Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies is a leading interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journal on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, publishing research in the arts and humanities since 1917. It covers languages, cultures, textual traditions, and civilizations of these regions from ancient times to the early twentieth century.
First published: 1917
Country: UK
Affiliation: School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Issues per year: 3
Scope: Oriental studies: Asia, Central Asia, Islam, Buddhism, Silk Road; languages, cultures and civilisations, from ancient to modern.
Languages: English
Editor-in-Chief: Ayman Shihadeh (SOAS University of London)
9. The Silk Road: The journal of the Silk Road House
Website || Institution || All Volumes
The Silk Road was an annual open-access journal published by The Silk Road House between 2003 and 2020. It focused on the history and cultures of Eurasia, particularly in pre-modern times, with a broad view of the Silk Roads spanning from prehistory to modern cultural traditions. The journal featured articles by scholars and experts, highlighted new research, including archaeological findings, and provided updates on Silk Road-related programs.
First published: 2003
Last issue: 2020
Country: USA
Affiliation: The Silk Road House (non-functioning)
Publisher: –
Issues per year: 1 volume
Scope: Silk Road Studies
Languages: English
Editor: Justin M. Jacobs (American University, Washington DC)
Submission instructions
Submit an article
10. Inner Asia
Website || Institution || All Volumes (see Website)
Inner Asia is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published bi-annually by the Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit (MIASU) at the University of Cambridge, since 1999. It emphasizes the social sciences, humanities, and cultural studies, addressing both contemporary and historical issues in the region. The journal’s editors are Caroline Humphrey, Uradyn E. Bulag, and David Sneath, supported by panels of scholars from Europe, North America, and Asia.
MIASU is a research center that supports postgraduate and higher-level research on Inner Asia, maintaining links with international organizations. The journal focuses on topics such as political and economic nationalism, markets, property concepts, religion, ethnicity, identity, urbanization, modernity, environmental issues, and the legacy of socialist governance.
First published: 1999
Country: UK
Affiliation: Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit (University of Cambridge)
Publisher: Brill
Issues per year: 2
Scope: Inner Asia, Silk Roads, Central Asia, Mongolia, history, religion, ethnicity, politics.
Languages: English
Editors: Caroline Humphrey, Uradyn Bulag, and David Sneath
Submit an article: Inquiries and papers to be sent to the following email address: eaup2@cam.ac.uk
11. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient
Website || Institution || All Volumes (see Website) || Jstor
The Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient (JESHO) publishes original research on Asian, Near Eastern, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean history. It promotes world history from Asian and Middle Eastern perspectives, encouraging scholars to integrate cultural, intellectual, economic, social, and political analysis. The journal invites contributions from both early-career and established scholars, fostering interdisciplinary debate across the humanities and social sciences. Since its founding in 1958, JESHO has been the oldest and most respected journal in its field.
First published: 1957
Country: –
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Brill
Issues per year: 7
Scope: Asian, Near Eastern, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean studies; world history from Asian and Middle Eastern perspectives; integration of cultural, intellectual, economic, social, and political analysis; interdisciplinary research across humanities and social sciences
Languages: English
Editor: Paolo Sartori (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften)
12. Sino-Platonic Papers
Website || Institution || All Volumes (see Website)
Sino-Platonic Papers is a scholarly monograph series published by the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on the intercultural relations of China and Central Asia with other regions. Established in 1986 by Victor H. Mair, it encourages “unconventional or controversial” research, particularly by younger or independent scholars. Initially printed, the journal transitioned to open-access electronic publishing in 2006, offering all issues as free PDFs under a Creative Commons license.
Open access
First published: 1986
Country: USA
Affiliation: Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Pennsylvania
Publisher: online
Issues per year: –
Scope: China, Central Asia, Silk Roads, intercultural interactions, history, philology.
Languages: English
Editor-in-Chief: Victor H. Mair (University of Pennsylvania)
Submit a paper: Contact the editor by the following email: spp@pinyin.info
13. Eurasian Studies
Website || Institution || All Volumes*
Eurasian Studies is an independent academic journal promoting international cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches to the history of Eurasia, spanning the Balkans, Central Asia, and Iran. It focuses on the period from the rise of Islam to the First World War and publishes unedited documents, sources, and literary texts in facsimile and transcription. The journal also includes a substantial section for reviews of recent publications.
First published: 2002
Country: –
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Brill
Issues per year: 2
Scope: Eurasian studies, Central Asia, Islamic period, history.
Languages: English
Editors: Michele Bernardini (University of Naples “L’Orientale”); Jürgen Paul (Orientalisches Institut der Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg)
Submission instructions ?
Submit an article ? (Contact the editors)
*Only volumes published between the years 2015-now seem to be available.
14. Oriens Christianus: Hefte für die Kunde des christlichen Orients
Website || Original Website || Institution || All Volumes || Archive.org
Oriens Christianus is a journal, published since 1901, focusing on the Christian Orient (excluding Greek and Slavic Christianity). Its geographical scope spans from Ethiopia to China, and focuses on the history of the Christianity across Eurasia. Following the vision of its founder, Anton Baumstark, the journal covers religious topics and the broader mental and material culture of Oriental Christians. It publishes articles, reviews, and sources in various languages and scripts of the Christian Orient, collaborating with international scholars. It remains unique in the German-speaking academic world.
First published: 1901
Country: Germany
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Harrassowitz Verlag
Issues per year: 1 volume
Scope: Eastern Christianity, Middle East, Central Asia, Syriac Church, Armenian Church, China
Languages: English, German
Editors: Hubert Kaufhold (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich), Manfred Kropp
(University of Mainz)
Submission instructions
Submit an article: The manuscripts should be sent to Prof. Dr. Dr. Hubert Kaufhold by the following email address hubert.kaufhold@jura.uni-muenchen.de
15. Journal Asiatique
Website || Institution || Recent Volumes || Volumes published in 1822-1940.
Journal Asiatique is an authoritative, peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Société Asiatique (founded in 1822) of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (in France). Its first editor was the renowned Armenologist and orientalist Antoine-Jean Saint-Martin.
The journal focuses on Middle Eastern, Asian and Central Asian Studies in general, geographically covering an area stretching from North Africa to Japan, from ancient times to modern. It thus has numerous articles on Central Asian and Silk Road studies.
First published: 1822
Country: France
Affiliation: Société Asiatique
Publisher: Peeters Publishers
Issues per year: 2
Scope: Asian Studies, Ancient and Medieval Near East; Central Asia; South and East Asia; Iranian studies; Turkic Studies; history, philology, languages, literature, art, religion.
Languages: French, English, German
Editor-in-Chief: Jean-Marie Durand
Submission instructions
Submit an article: All submissions should be sent to editors via email. The editor responsible for The Near and Middle East section is Grégory Chambon (École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales). The editor responsible for Indian and East Asian Studies is Pierre Marsone (École pratique des Hautes Études).
Emails: Grégory Chambon gregory.chambon@ehess.fr;
Pierre Marsone pierre.marsone@ephe.sorbonne.fr
16. Zentralasiatische Studien – ZAS
Website || Institution || All Volumes
The Zentralasiatische Studien des Seminars für Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft Zentralasiens der Universität Bonn (ZAS) was founded by the renowned Mongolist Prof. Dr. Walther Heissig and have been published since 1967. In the ZAS, staff, students, guests, and associates of the Seminar for Central Asian Linguistics and Cultural Studies at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn—now known as the Department of Mongolian and Tibetan Studies within the Institute for Oriental and Asian Studies at the same university—present works from their research fields. Up to Volume 31, the journal was published by Harrassowitz Verlag in Wiesbaden. Since 2003, our society has been entrusted with publishing this long-standing scholarly journal. With Issue 43 (2014), the journal’s previous focus was expanded to include an international structure of academically responsible editors.
First published: 1967
Country: Germany
Affiliation: Department of Mongolian and Tibetan Studies, University of Bonn
Publisher: International Institute for Tibetan and Buddhist Studies
Issues per year: 1 volume
Scope: Tibetan studies, Central Asia, Mongolia, history, linguistics, philology.
Languages: German, English
Editor: Prof. Dr. Peter Schwieger (University of Bonn)
Submission instructions
Submit an article: Contact the editor by the following email address: pt.schwieger@uni-bonn.de
17. International Journal of Islam in Asia
Website || Institution || All Volumes (see Website)
The International Journal of Islam in Asia (IJIA) is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal focusing on historical, contemporary, and critical studies of Islam and Muslim communities in Asia and the Asian Muslim diaspora. It covers topics such as MENA-Asia relations, Islamic thought, intellectual history, intra-Muslim relations, Sufism, ethnicity, modernity, politics, the State, geopolitics, and Muslim-non-Muslim relations across Asia.
First published: 2020
Country: –
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Brill
Issues per year: 2
Scope: Islam, Asia, Central Asia, Iran, China, South-East Asia, religion, history, society
Languages: English
Editors: Deina Abdelkader (University of Massachusetts at Lowell, USA); Chiara Formichi, (Cornell University, USA); Brannon Ingram, (Northwestern University, USA); Karen Ruffle, (University of Toronto, Canada)
18. Archivum Eurasiae Medii Aevi
Website || Institution || All Volumes || List of papers vols 1-19
Archivum Eurasiae Medii Aevi focuses on the history and philology of the Eurasian steppes and neighboring regions from late antiquity to the Mongol Empire and its successor states. It covers steppe peoples, including Iranian speakers, Huns, Oghur and Bulghar Turks, Sabirs, Rouran/Avars, Khazars, Hungarians, Pechenegs, Cumans, and Mongol Empire peoples, while exploring their connections with the Slavic World, Byzantium, Iran, the Caucasus, Islamic lands, Central and Northern Europe, China, and South Asia.
First published: 1975
Country: –
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Harrassowitz Verlag
Issues per year: 1 volume
Scope: Eurasian steppes, Iranian Studies, Turkic Studies, Eastern Europe, China, Central Asia, history, nomadic peoples.
Languages: English, Russian
Editors: Peter B. Golden (pgolden@rutgers.edu), R.K. Kovalev, A.P. Martinez, J. Skaff, I. Zimonyi
Submission instructions
Submit an article: Contact the editors.
19. Central Asian Survey
Website || Institution || All Volumes
Central Asian Survey is a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal focusing on the history, politics, cultures, religions, and economies of Central Asia and the Caucasus, including former Soviet republics, the South and North Caucasus, Chinese Xinjiang, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey, particularly in relation to their connections with Central Asia.
First published: 1982
Country: –
Affiliation: –
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Issues per year: 4
Scope: Central Asia, Caucasus, Xinjiang, Afghanistan; history, modern history, society, politics
Languages: English
Editors: Rico Isaacs (University of Lincoln, UK)
20. Bulletin of the Asia Institute
Website || Institution || Archive (Jstor)*
The Bulletin of the Asia Institute is an authoritative academic publication that publishes academic research on East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. One can read about the contents of the last published volume on Bibliographia Iranica and India & Iran Trust websites.
The BAI faces challenges with poorly managed online resources, making it difficult to find reliable information about the journal. The website is not regularly updated, and interested parties may need to contact the editors directly via email for information on upcoming publications.
First published: 1987
Last volume: 2020-21 (Vol 30)
Country: USA
Affiliation: Asia Institute of the Pahlavi University in Shiraz (defunct)
Publisher: Wayne State University Press (formerly)
Issues per year: 1 volume (irregular)
Volumes: 30
Scope: Asian Studies; Central Asia; Iranian Studies; Silk Roads; Archaeology; History; Linguistics; Middle East Studies; Art & Art History.
Languages: English, French, German
Editors: Carol Altman Bromberg
Submission instructions
Submit an article: Write an email to bai34@comcast.net; bai34@aol.com
*Volumes between 1987 and 2014