The literature that survives from medieval Central Asia generally evolved from oral tradition, and includes much poetry as well as prose literature. From Iran there survives a bi-lingual literary heritage, in both Arabic and Persian, and the earliest examples of a growing literary culture across Central Asia can be found in the inscriptions of the Turkic, Tibetan, and Mongolian peoples.

Music was important in Central Asia in the antique and medieval periods, and is often referenced in sources, but there is no extant musical notation from this time.  It was a feature of Buddhism, and we know that Buddhist orchestras existed, and remained integral to Central Asian society after the spread of Islam.  Music played a part in many aspects of daily life; from the academic study of music to the visits of performing artists and its role in local cultural events, such as festivals, story-telling, dances, and theatre.   

There is a variety of extant literature from Sasanian Iran, reflecting the culture, traditions and legends of the empire and its people. The secular literature consists of the chronicles of Sasanian kings, as well as epic histories and scientific treatises. Philosophy, theological works, wisdom literature (Andarz), and visionary texts feature among the religious literature from this era.

There remains much to be discovered about the languages and literature of the Kushan Empire, to the extent that a new language in an unknown script has been discovered recently. Sanskrit and Prakrit are both literary languages that pre-date the Kushan Empire, whilst Bactrian developed to become a ‘literary’ language in this era. Sogdian is also important, spoken by the merchants who were engaged in the silk trade and who thus traversed Central Asia.

The vast Kushan Empire (from the first to the fourth centuries AD) held a number of divergent artistic cultures within its borders. These can be divided into four broad regions: Bactria (in the basin of the Oxus), Arachosia and Nagarahara (now in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan), ancient Gandhara (also now situated in modern Pakistan and Afghanistan), and Mathura in India. Yet despite their differences, these artistic cultures were politically united under a single state.

The Xinjiang region of western China, the Mongols, and the Uighurs all enjoy unique yet related artistic and architectural traditions.  From the mid-19^th century until the present day, religious and political changes have combined with the multiple nationalities and ethnicities in these regions to form individual artistic cultures, from the practice of fine arts, to Buddhist art and architecture, and the products of the contemporary art scene.

Cities and urban centres grew up along the trade routes that passed through Central Asia between the seventh and fifteenth centuries. The transmission of cultures and ideas along with the passage of trading goods had a fundamental effect on the architecture and even the structure of cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Merv. New rulers took control of the lands along the trade routes, such as the Arab conquests and later the Mongols.