From the Bronze Age to the twenty-first century; vying armies have clashed over the territory stretching from the Upper Nile to modern-day Iraq and Iran. Crossroads of War captures five millennia of conflict and conquest in detailed full-color maps; accompanied by incisive; accessible commentary.The lands of the Middle East were home to a succession of empires―Egyptian; Babylonian; Assyrian; and Persian―that rose and declined with the fortunes of battle. Kings and generals renowned in history bestrode the region: Nebuchadnezzar; David; Alexander the Great; Saladin; Napoleon. The religions of Zoroastrianism; Judaism; Christianity; and Islam were born here and from the beginning became embroiled in conflicts ranging from the Maccabean Revolt to Muhammad’s Arabian conquests to the Christian Crusades. In the twentieth century; the Middle East witnessed the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and played a role in the grim dramas of two world wars; as T. E. Lawrence helped spark the Arab Revolt and General Bernard Montgomery defeated Hitler’s Desert Fox; General Erwin Rommel; at El Alamein.From the Yom Kippur War and Operation Desert Storm to a Global War on Terror that still looms over the twenty-first century; the Middle East continues to be shaped by the vagaries and vicissitudes of military conflict. Crossroads of War offers valuable insights into the part of the world that first cradled civilization and then imagined its demise in a final clash of armies at Armageddon.
#218400 in Books Flannery Kent 2014-10-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.13 x 1.51 x 5.72l; .0 #File Name: 0674416775648 pagesThe Creation of Inequality How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy Slavery and Empire
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A must even for people interested in institutional development in economy policy scienceBy jukka aakulaTo me there are maybe too many details. Otherwise: Book is very interesting discussion on how the human institutions have developed in prehistory from a) unhierarchical extended families through b) achievement based societies to c) rank societies with hereditary classes. It is evident the writer is one of the abosulute best experts on the subject.Actually the book discusses the same issue of institutional development from the antropology and argeology point of view as Francis Fukuyama's The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution does from history and political science point of view but concentrating on human prehistory instead of history.So I would say this book is not only for antropologyargeology enthusiasts but should also be read by people interested in economy and political science who will widen their understanding on the evolution of institutions. Meaning people following scientists like Fukuyama; Daron Acemoglu; Avner Greif or Peyton Young. Institutional evolution has been an ongoing process duuring the human history since extended families started to give room for more complex societies and collective ownership for private ownership.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A great evolution of human societyBy Cynthia Fay GoldingI only took one course in anthropology in college - enough to get me started; however; I am an engineering/math type person. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the development of humans while society; cities; culture and law as humans have progressed to the state we currently are at. The author has excellent writing in getting this point across as well as in organization and keeping the interest. I suggest all to read this. The author has great insight into humanity.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good summary of researchBy Jaguar9439The authors did an excellent job of summarizing archeological and anthropological studies to provide a picture of the transition from roving bands of hunter gatherers to more complex societal structures such as chiefdoms and monarchies. The authors compare research for societies at similar levels of complexity but at different periods in time to look for general patterns. I found the approach worthwhile and interesting although some of the archeological detail could be tedious. Highly recommend if you're interested in the earliest stages of social organization.
