Inner and Central Asia extends as far east as central China and as far west as areas in the Middle East. The changing empires over time (as well as the "shifting sands" of the geographic landmass) made it difficult to consider this as a single area. Moreover, the cultural exchanges which took place across this landmass, the transport of ideas as well as goods, and the "timelessness" as well as the contemporary relevance, all make the task even more difficult to categorize. A person can enter a bazaar, which is "centerless," from many directions and wander through, exiting from a totally different door. The plan is to enter the bazaar delineated in this resource guide through any of these gates: the early history of inner Asia; the Silk Road; the Mongol Empire; Islam; playing the Great Game; or in the modern period. The resource guide begins with an introduction, maps, a time chart, a glossary, and the Teacher Guide (Teaching Methodology; Suggested Teaching Activities). It is then divided into the following broadly sketched sections: (1) "How Can One Imagine Inner Asia Geographically?" ("Landscape and Climate; Settlements and Dwellings"); (2) "How Did Movement across the Region Influence Multiple Cultural Interaction?" ("Migration: Explorations, Quests and Conquests"; "Trade and Material Exchange"; "Religion and Information Exchange"; "Culture and Customs"); (3) "How Did the Mongolian Conquest and Empire Influence Inner Asia History?" ("Mongolian Customs and Traditions"; "Mongols' Achievements and Heroes"); and (4) "How Does Inner Asia Fit into the Modern Content of Global Issues?" ("Politics and Nationhood"; "Society in Transition"; "Economy and Development"; "Environment)". Seven teacher background readings are included. (BT)