From Ghengis Khan to Petrodollars: The Changing Face of Central Asia

Micheal Kohn, Author, Dateline Mongolia; BBC Correspondent

One of the world’s most fascinating regions comes to life in this enlightening program. Join veteran Lonely Planet author Kohn for a slideshow on emerging Mongolia and the Central Asian republics. Kohn will discuss the best places to visit in Central Asia, from digging dinosaur bones in the Gobi Desert to carpet hunting in the frenetic bazaars of Ashgabat. With hauntingly stark landscapes and vibrant indigenous cultures, Central Asia can at times seem only a generation or two removed from the days of Ghengis Khan. Having reported from numerous conflict zones across the region, Kohn will also describe the complex geo-political web of Central Asia, its resources, and why these remote countries remain so vital to global security and stability in the 21st century.

This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on March 11, 2009.