Spattered with antennas, covered with vast expanses of concrete, it would seem the American West has ceased to be a frontier. However, the contributors point out, the West is also a state of mind that has yet to be charted, especially if one considers the wide open spaces in interdisciplinary studies. In this collection of nine articles, contributors share their work on the concept (and practice) of the frontier, ranging from trade and war on two Chinese frontiers (Turfan and Taiwan), three overlapping frontiers in early modern Bengal, and fragmented across the Himalayas. They find frontiers in the Inka empire, among the Maya, and in the meetings of people where rivers meet. They also explore political and ideological concepts about frontiers in ancient Egypt, Iron Age Anatolia and in the introduction of modern education to the Sino-Central Asian border. Annotation 穢2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)