The proposed publication belongs to the number of textbooks of the new generation, free from ideological precepts. The history of the East is presented from ancient times to the present day within the framework of a single author’s concept. Its meaning is that the traditional East has been structurally different from Western Europe since antiquity. The first volume examines the history of ancient and medieval (until the beginning of the 19th century) states and societies of Asia and Africa. An analysis is given of the general patterns of development of the East, much attention is paid to traditions, peculiarities of religion and culture of different peoples. Reviewers: Department of History of the Near and Middle East, Institute of Asian and African Countries at Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov (director of the institute, head of the department, Doctor of Historical Sciences M.S. Meyer), ch. editor of the magazine "Vostok", Dr. Sci. L.B. Alaev and head. Department of IMEMO of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Ist. Sciences V.G. Khoros. Recommended by the Ministry of General and Professional Education of the Russian Federation as a textbook for university students.