Middle East Books

An excellent book, well written by an excellent and knowledgeable author. a must for anyone having an interest in Ancient Egypt

Watterson's book provides a fascinating, and very readable, introduction to the ancient land of Egypt. I couldn't put it down! And, our local library can't keep it on the shelves.

Watterson combines the best of the classical authors (Herodotus, Strabo, etc) with the best of current scholarship. She has a unique ability to focus on what is most important and interesting in the long span (5000 years!) of Egyptian history.

This book is very well written, very rich in information, and truly a pleasure to read. It is one of the very best histories that I have ever read. I believe that it will soon become a classic textbook, reference, and popular work. I recommend it without reservation to anyone - high school or college student, scholar, or general reader - who wants an excellent history of Egypt from ancient to modern times.

I bought this book because so much of Palestinian culture has been crushed under decades of war and I wanted to do my little bit to keep it alive. However, I got more than I bargained for. Not only does the book explain the 'language' of the embroideries, tying them to villages and regions, it provides very explicit, beautiful photos showing the stitches very clearly.

Never having been a particular fan of cross-stitch, I have now been converted. Many of the designs use this stitch to absolutely wonderful effect, and the colours riot across the pages. I don't mean to imply that cross-stitch is all the Palestinians use, because it isn't. Anyone who can embroider can see how different patterns are sewn and what stitches are used.

It is so inspiring to see the exuberance of these patterns. By our standards the execution is rough, yet the overall effect is stunning. When you see pages of excerpts from a garment and then see the whole garment on the next page, you can put each piece in context. My response was to make three dresses (using the Gaza Dress pattern from Foklore) and I have started embroidering the first one. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so it may take some time, but I remember what Chesterton (I think) said about the journey counting as much as the destination.

This is a fairly small book, suitable for putting in you bag and looking at while waiting at the supermarket checkout, or in your holiday luggage. If you love colour and stitchery in general, it will give you lots of ideas. It's overall effect on me was one of joy.

This book provides excellent details of various embroideryand applique techniques found on Palestinian garments. It is a worthy companion to Ms Weir's fabulous book, Palestinian Costume.

on the page 20 of the book is written:"The Nagpur session was the turning point in the history of the subcontinent, which had far reaching consequences and water shed over the history not only of South Asia but of the entire world. the seeds of fundamentalism were sown in this historic session that has now bedeviled the world today".
in the context of this para, my reviews are: the roots of fundamentalism and terrorism which have permeated over the modern world took its birth in the policies and political ideas of Mahatma Ghandi Gi, who himself fell victim of outrageous terrorism at the hand of a Hindu fanatic, named by Nathu Ram Godsay. though apparently, Ghandi Gi was a preacher and propounder of the theory of non-violance in politics, but he miserabley failed to forsee and understand the evil consequences of involving Relegion into politics which was forseen by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.
very interestingly and astonishingly, the intellectuals and scholars of the modern world are beating about bush about the roots of fundamentalism.

on the page 20 of the book is written:"The Nagpur session was the turning point in the history of the subcontinent, which had far reaching consequences and water shed over the history not only of South Asia but of the entire world. the seeds of fundamentalism were sown in this historic session that has now bedeviled the world today".
in the context of this para, my reviews are: the roots of fundamentalism and terrorism which have permeated over the modern world took its birth in the policies and political ideas of Mahatma Ghandi Gi, who himself fell victim of outrageous terrorism at the hand of a Hindu fanatic, named by Nathu Ram Godsay. though apparently, Ghandi Gi was a preacher and propounder of the theory of non-violance in politics, but he miserabley failed to forsee and understand the evil consequences of involving Relegion into politics which was forseen by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.

I don't know, maybe i am not objective with Runciman's work, i considered himself the most extraordinary historian,although he is not the "modern type of novelist historian" he still is the person that most successfully brings me in the period that he describes. It is unbelievable that he was so young when he wrote this book. Never before Lecapenu's period was analyzed so well by the historians like Gibbon or Finlay and their judgment was so negative, after this all historians wrote for the Lecapenu's period the same exactly opinion that he gave more than 75 years ago.This has to mean something. It is so beautiful to think that Lecapenus, the ninth century of byzantium is living trough the book so well written by the biggest historian ever.

This book is a wonderful introduction not only to Emperor Romanus and the various challenges he faced in his reign but also to the state of the east Mediterrianian world in the first half of the Tenth Century. Runciman manages once again to apply energetic prose to sound scholarship. He also navigates the reader through the complicated intrigues at the Imperial Court in Constantinople which can be hard to understand for the beginning Byzantine Scholar. Runciman makes the reader conscious of the fact that the soldier-emperors Nicephorus Phocas, John Tsmiszes and Basil II of the second half of Tenth century benefitted from the leadership of Romanus and the well- oiled Byzantine administrative and military machine he guided for twenty-five years. I warmly recommend this book.

hmmmmm..... yes, very good. simple but not too simple, descriptive but not too descriptive, funny but not too- well you get my meaning. altogether a excellent book. quite smashing, wouldn't you say so chaps? Jolly ho!

really absorbing and thought provoking. myself being a historian i was instantly drawn to its really eye catching, funky front cover. i can' wait for robinson's nextt book to come out- i've heard that its even better. he obviously took a lot of time and care over it- i can spot no punctuation mistakes. i've heard he has 2 children- both of them adorable (especially the girl, mayumi) and i am desperate to meet them (well, not the boy)

Styles in historiography come and go. For the classical Greek historians, history was partly the clever strategies of great generals, partly the well-cadenced speeches that should have been made, some descriptions of strange cultures, some geography. For the medieval chroniclers, history was melodrama: great battles, duels between heroes, treacherous murders. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Enlightenment, history was the progressive improvement of forms of government. For a while in the 1980s, history was a counterpoint between the psychology of the Chosen Figure and a description of his social milieu. Later came the history of attitudes of women to housework and the detailed history of underwear (no, I'm not kidding).

Ideas about the forces controlling history also change. Caesar was certain that Roman military strategy and tactics brought about the conquest of Gaul. Josephus probably really believed what he repeatedly wrote, that God determines the details of history as reward and punishment for people's actions. Most readers today probably believe that history is determined by material facts, mainly economic facts. Probably this is another aspect of our Enlightenment heritage.

Garth Fowden has returned to two older ideas, that a history book should have a thesis, and that beliefs have a powerful influence on history. In Empire to Commonwealth, his main thesis is that universalist, monotheistic religions helped bring about world conquest in late antiquity, and that their opposite had the opposite effect. Who are the monotheistic universalists? For example, the Byzantine Christians and the Muslims. Who are not? The Achaemenids, the particularist Jews.

On the way, he discusses several other interesting questions in the history of ideas. The question of whether only the saintly are the chosen of God, or whether the highest levels of religion are open even to sinners by virtue of their chosen position, was an important question in early Christianity. Mr. Fowden could have pointed out that the Jews were arguing the same question at about the same time (see Berachot 28a, 34a).

Mr. Fowden has great knowledge of cultures which even people well educated in the Western tradition know little about, e. g., the ancient Iranian religions and the monophysite Christianity of medieval Ethiopia. As in all good histories, there are also diversions along the way, discussions of the moral one-upmanship among the Romans and Iranians in respecting the chastity of each other's harems, and of the amazemant caused by a royal progress of the Black Christian king of Aksum among the oppressed Christians of neighboring lands. And who but Mr. Fowden knows about the synod of monophysite Christians called in 1965 by the Emperor of Ethiopia and the Metropolitan of Aksum.

Mr. Fowden knows how to write. The history of late antiquity, especially outside of Europe and Asia Minor, is a weak spot in the education of most of us. It's also pleasant to return to the historiography of ideas sometimes. The book is also well printed and well bound, and includes high-quality photographs of both artistic and historical significance. I'm glad I read it, and hope to read it again

Styles in historiography come and go. For the classical Greek historians, history was partly the clever strategies of great generals, partly the well-cadenced speeches that should have been made, some descriptions of strange cultures, some geography. For the medieval chroniclers, history was melodrama: great battles, duels between heroes, treacherous murders. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Enlightenment, history was the progressive improvement of forms of government. For a while in the 1980s, history was a counterpoint between the psychology of the Chosen Figure and a description of his social milieu. Later came the history of attitudes of women to housework and the detailed history of underwear (no, I'm not kidding).

Ideas about the forces controlling history also change. Caesar was certain that Roman military strategy and tactics brought about the conquest of Gaul. Josephus probably really believed what he repeatedly wrote, that God determines the details of history as reward and punishment for people's actions. Most readers today probably believe that history is determined by material facts, mainly economic facts. Probably this is another aspect of our Enlightenment heritage.

Garth Fowden has returned to two older ideas, that a history book should have a thesis, and that beliefs have a powerful influence on history. In Empire to Commonwealth, his main thesis is that universalist, monotheistic religions helped bring about world conquest in late antiquity, and that their opposite had the opposite effect. Who are the monotheistic universalists? For example, the Byzantine Christians and the Muslims. Who are not? The Achaemenids, the particularist Jews.

On the way, he discusses several other interesting questions in the history of ideas. The question of whether only the saintly are the chosen of God, or whether the highest levels of religion are open even to sinners by virtue of their chosen position, was an important question in early Christianity. Mr. Fowden could have pointed out that the Jews were arguing the same question at about the same time (see Berachot 28a, 34a).

Mr. Fowden has great knowledge of cultures which even people well educated in the Western tradition know little about, e. g., the ancient Iranian religions and the monophysite Christianity of medieval Ethiopia. As in all good histories, there are also diversions along the way, discussions of the moral one-upmanship among the Romans and Iranians in respecting the chastity of each other's harems, and of the amazemant caused by a royal progress of the Black Christian king of Aksum among the oppressed Christians of neighboring lands. And who but Mr. Fowden knows about the synod of monophysite Christians called in 1965 by the Emperor of Ethiopia and the Metropolitan of Aksum.

Mr. Fowden knows how to write. The history of late antiquity, especially outside of Europe and Asia Minor, is a weak spot in the education of most of us. It's also pleasant to return to the historiography of ideas sometimes. I haven't seen the paperback, but the hard-cover edition includes high-quality photographs of both artistic and historical significance. I'm glad I read the book, and hope to read it again

Amazing book that covers the entire region, explaining through the author's personal experience and data collected over the last 40 years why jewellery in Egypt varied from one area to the other, and how the location, environmental conditions and traditions affected the design and the choice of material. Stunning images in the book as well as interesting information about jewellery in Egypt over the past century.

ENCHANTED JEWELRY OF EGYPT: THE TRADITIONAL ART AND CRAFT comes in an oversized gorgeous hardcover with slipcase and is a top pick for any college-level or in-depth specialty collection focusing on either world jewelry in general or Egyptian history, culture and the arts in particular. The author is a designer of jewelry based on traditional motifs and covers jewelry made throughout Egypt over the last hundred years, using her own collection and travels to supplement history and research. Both history and jewelry-making insights make for an outstanding survey.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

DEAR SIRS:
I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU SOME OF MY FREIND WILL BE VERY GREATFUL TO HAVE ALL 11 PUBLISHED EDITIONS OF ENCYCLOPEDIA IRANIKA.
IF IT IS POSSIBE FOR YOU TO SUPPLY PLEASE INFORM US.
THANK YOU.
MAJID AMIN JAVAHER

The Encyclopaedia Iranica represents the finest scholarly resource for the study of Iranian civilization, ranging from prehistoric times through the present. No major library should be without it, and anyone studying any aspect of Iranian civilization in any period should always consult it. It is a monumental achievement.

College-level holdings strong in film history or Middle East history will both find plenty of depth, detail and description in Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers, a survey of how these women produce films in a male-dominated profession and world. The history of Arab women's filmmaking and the political and social background of Arab nations are mingled in a blend of biographical sketches, critical film reviews, and discussions that include interviews from the filmmakers themselves.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

"Encyclopedia" connotes the comprehensiveness of the material, but not the kinds or variety nor the formatting. The material which exceeds what anyone could be looking for in this subject area and is more informative for the way it is formatted is arranged country by country. Not only are the Arab women filmmakers grouped by country, but there is an introduction to each group which is an overview of the Arab country's film industry noting the particular challenges and advances for its women filmmakers. As for additional material not ordinarily associated with an "encyclopedia," there is an interview with each of the women. And in the section on each is a filmography and also separate "film reviews" of each major film. With this formatting rather than the standard alphabetical arrangement with a reference titled an encyclopedia, the distinctive talent and accomplishments of each filmmaker is presented cogently with accompanying photographs so each one stands out with nearby references to her body of films. Not a conventional type of reference despite its title, this work on this category of filmmaker of rising interest from current international affairs as well as the long-standing special interest in women's accomplishments is really more like a text for use in courses or individual study.

This is the first of the Myth and Mankind books i have read, but I have really enjoyed it. It lays out a large selection of near eastern myths in a story format that is easy to read and understand, while also providing notes about variations on the stories and some background information on the re-discovery of these myths. The photographs are excellent and include some less commonly seen artifacts along with the classics (you can't have an ancient near eastern book without a picture of the Standard of Ur). Although this is not an extensive in-depth analysis of the myths, it is not overly simplistic or a children's book. It is a great introduction to the myths or the region and enjoyable to read.

This is easily one of the better developed Myth and Mankind books. The book is well rounded in scope between all of the ancient Middle East cultures and provides amazing comparisons between them. From Sumerian, Hittite, Babylonian and Assyrian myths this book does an exceedingly proficient job of providing suficient myths of the pantheons of all cultures as well as background and side/hero stories.

The tales in this book are very invigorating as well as exciting and provide a wealth of information on Middle Eastern Mythology expecially in terms of pantheons, creation and hero tales. The stories as well are often accompanied with vivd pictures or descriptions to add to the whole flamboyant presentation of the book and provide real life evidence of the culture through history and artifacts.

Much like the other books in the series this book does an exceptional job of using comparitive mythology to analyze the cultures of the region between each other as well as on a global view. The books power to provide direct and engaging examples of myth between cultures provides for an amazing view of how all the cultures shared beliefs as well as to how different cultures adopted and manipoulated certain myths for their own region.

I would highly recomend this book as well as the rest of the Myth and Mankind series for a fan of comparitive mythology as well as a fan of ancient world culture an mythology.