Middle East

One of the most fascinating corners of the world, the Middle East is the cradle of human civilization. The Middle East lies at the juncture of Africa and Eurasia and of the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is the birthplace and spiritual home of religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Druze, Yarsan and Madeanism. Divided by region, Middle East is a sumptuous depiction of this most historic of regions. From the 4th century CE onwards, the Middle East was the seat of the two main powers at the time, the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire. Subsequently the birth of Islam saw the rise of Muslim powers, most notably the Ottoman Empire which dominated much of the Middle East for centuries. More recently, the discovery of two-thirds of the world's oil reserves in a context where oil was becoming increasingly vital to the economy of the Western world has led to greater economic success within the region. For the modern visitor, there is much to chose from. Watch the sun set over the honeycombed magic of Petra and explore tree-lined boulevards and exquisite blue-tiled mosques in Esfahan, Iran. For a more contemporary visit, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are futuristic playgrounds packed with hedonistic pleasures, chic shopping malls and luxury resorts.
With more than 180 vivid photographs of the Middle East, this book offers a pictorial exploration of the culture, history and fauna of this hugely diverse part of the planet.