Empires, Wars, and Battles: The Middle East from Antiquity to the Rise of the New World

Military Review, March-April, 2008 by Andrew M. Roe

EMPIRES, WARS, AND BATTLES: The Middle East from Antiquity to the Rise of the New World, T.C.F. Hopkins. A Tim Doherty Associates Book, New York, 2007, 244 pages, $24.95.

Empires, Wars, and Battles is a lively and compelling historical narrative that describes the origins and advances of the Middle East. Its author, T.C.F. Hopkins, presents the complexities, traditions, and history of the region in a balanced, uncomplicated style. In five short chapters, he takes the reader on a journey that starts in the Ancient World and concludes with the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Along the way, he covers such fascinating topics as Roman expansion, the Byzantine Empire, the Crusades, and the War of the Black and White Sheep Turks. Despite the book's unremitting pace and the vast period of history it covers, the reader is reassuringly left with a basic, if abridged, understanding of the character, nuances, and rivalries of many of the ancient societies of the Middle East.

While Empires, Wars, and Battles provides insights into the origins and intricacies of conflict in the Middle East, readers will be frustrated that Hopkins avoids linking past events with contemporary challenges: an explanation as to why historical occurrences continue to play such a critical role in world affairs would have been helpful. Likewise, for those unfamiliar with the geography and episodes of the region, the seven black and white maps intended to assist the reader to understand cultural, national, and other environmental factors fail to deliver; they are confounding and irritatingly basic. A series of high-quality maps, carefully annotated, would have assisted the reader enormously. There would also have been merit in including a number of pictures or representations of the key characters introduced throughout the book, since many will be unfamiliar to the lay reader.

Despite these shortcomings, Empires, Wars, and Battles is an absorbing and cleverly researched history of the Middle East. Focusing principally on the social, political, and monetary motivations of conflict, Hopkins articulates the historical struggles of the region and, importantly, its relationship with Europe. He also posits a number of profound observations worthy of contemplation. For example, while describing the Roman period, Hopkins notes: "Rome had discovered an important truth about war as a result of their clashes with the Carthaginians: that war and conquest are not the same thing; and that the success of a war is ultimately judged by what comes after it. As one Roman general of this period quipped, 'Wars are won in the peace.'"

In sum, Empires, Wars, and Battles is an enjoyable and absorbing study. While not a must-read for those deploying to the Middle East, it will appeal to many who wish to gain an overview of the region's history and its complexities. Despite a number of minor deficiencies, few will be disappointed by the book's fast pace and straightforward, well-written accounts.

MAJ Andrew M. Roe, British Army, Bulford, United Kingdom