#  Committee on Inner Asian and Altaic Studies, Harvard University  

 



##  The Committee on Inner Asian and Altaic Studies 

 Welcome 

Established in the fall of 1972 for the purpose of stimulating and integrating instruction and research in the history and cultures of the peoples in the steppe, mountain, forest, and oasis areas between China, Russia, western Iran, and Pakistan.

This geographic area comprises greater Central Asia (namely former Soviet Central Asia, Xinjiang, eastern Iran, and Afghanistan), Kazakhstan, the northern regions of Pakistan, Tibet (including Qinghai and eastern Sichuan, Gansu, and northwestern Yunnan), Mongolia, and Manchuria. The Altaic languages include the Turkic group, the Mongolian group, and the Tungusic group.



 

 

 

       ![View from Samding Monastery](/sites/g/files/omnuum916/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/iaas/files/3.view_from_samding_monastery_2_0.jpg?h=c1fa15f4&itok=npS7IkIA) 

 

 



 

 



 

Harvard University is pre-eminent among the very few universities where Inner Asian and Altaic studies may be pursued. Harvard's library holdings in East European, East Asian, Islamic, and South Asian areas led to a development of strength in the Inner Asian and Altaic fields prior to the actual establishment of this program.

The research centers and degree programs that exist at Harvard have contributed much material directly relevant to the study of this region.

Harvard possesses outstanding collections in the Chinese, Iranian, Turkish, Arabic, Indian, and Russian languages which comprise the most important primary sources for the study of this area, as well as in Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan. These collections are variously held by the Widener, Harvard-Yenching, Houghton, Dumbarton Oaks, Gibb, Tozzer, and Fine Arts libraries.



 

##  News and Events 

 



  [### IAAS Lecture: Before Kamikaze: Diplomatic Negotiations among the Mongols, Japan, and Korea before 1274 Bun'ei Campaign

 ](/news/2026/04/iaas-lecture-kamikaze-diplomatic-negotiations-among-mongols-japan-and-korea-1274-bunei) April 01, 2026 

 On Wednesday, April 1st, we will welcome Prof. Lina Nie (RSEA'18) to present her work " Before Kamikaze: Diplomatic Negotiations among the Mongols, Japan, and Korea before 1274 Bun'ei Campaign ." This lecture will be a hybrid event. Please join us in... 

 

 

   ![Lina Nie headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum916/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/lina-nie-headshot.jpg?h=52b5d59a&itok=1xAFhJd1) 

 



 

 

   [### New Directions Workshop: Against Erasure: Uyghur Poems, Imprisoned Souls, and the Act of Resistance

 ](/news/2026/03/new-directions-workshop-against-erasure-uyghur-poems-imprisoned-souls-and-act) March 27, 2026 

 On Friday, March 27th, New Directions will host Aziz Isa Elkun, a Uyghur poet, academic, and human rights advocate. He will present his work "Against Erasure: Uyghur Poems, Imprisoned Souls, and the Act of Resistance" at 4:00 pm in room S050, CGIS-South... 

 

 

   ![Uyghur Poems and Imprisoned Souls book covers](/sites/g/files/omnuum916/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-23%20at%209.43.26%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?itok=7jxyQSEa) 

 



 

 

   [### IAAS Lecture: The Advent of Nomadic Pastoralism in Northeast Asia

 ](/news/2026/02/iaas-lecture-advent-nomadic-pastoralism-northeast-asia) February 04, 2026 

 On Wednesday, February 4th, we will welcome Prof. Joshua Wright to present his work " The Advent of Nomadic Pastoralism in Northeast Asia: An evolving synthesis ." This lecture will be a hybrid event. Please join us in person at 1:15 pm in room S050, CGIS... 

 

 

   ![Joshua Wright headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum916/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/wright%20bio%20pic%202.JPG?h=c245a95e&itok=BRn0J8ig) 

 



 

 

  

 

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