The Near East

This book consists of four chronological chapters describing the development of culture in the Near East from ancient to modern times with ten maps and 124 illustrations. In their press release the publishers write that this book shows how history has shaped the beliefs, traditions, and politics of the Near East. No wonder − considering the fact that the author, Arthur Cotterell, is a historian who has already published two encyclopaedias of civilizations. The idea about writing this book was suggested to the author during a Mediterranean cruise by a couple of passengers who wanted to know more about the development of the Near East, the cradle of civilization, and could not find an account written for the general reader.