The Near East

Description

A sweeping cultural history of the Near East, from the birth of civilization to the present day.

The Near East was the cradle of civilization: the Sumerians invented urban living and writing here, and monotheism was born and spread across the globe. Arthur Cotterell vividly sketches the extraordinary cultures that have left their mark on the region, from their early myths, deities and rituals of worship to their pioneering political systems and military conquests. Charting the rise and fall of Assyria and Babylon, the world’s first great powers, then exploring the long eras of Persian, Byzantine, Arab and Ottoman rule, The Near East traces the legacy of this rich past through the destabilization of Western imperialism, and beyond.

This enthralling narrative shows how history has shaped the beliefs, traditions and politics of the Near East, one of the world’s most creative, diverse and yet troubled regions.

Reviews

‘What distinguishes Arthur Cotterell’s The Near East: A Cultural History is its sweep. […] Cotterell has given us, in this beautifully illustrated and handsomely produced book, an impressive introduction to the history of the near east.’ — The National

‘As the Near East edges ever nearer, we in the Middle West need to know it better. Arthur Cotterell’s cultural history is the ideal primer. Full of surprises and enriched by the author’s insights into its mythology and ritual, The Near East offers a comprehensive history in which conquests and conversions are more than matched by continuities and commonalities.’ — John Keay, author of Sowing the Wind: the Seeds of Conflict in the Middle East as well as standard histories of India and China

‘A lively history of the Near East that presents a very accessible, readable, and accurate narrative, thanks to Cotterell’s beautiful and engaging prose.’ — Ilan Pappé, author of The Modern Middle East and The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine

Author(s)

Arthur Cotterell is a prolific historian and author with a special interest in ancient ideas, myths and beliefs. His previous books include The Penguin Encyclopedia of Ancient Civilizations; The Penguin Encyclopedia of Classical Civilizations, and The Near East: A Cultural History, also published by Hurst.