This is the first systematic economic history of the Fertile Crescent throughout the nineteenth century, a region encompassing what is now Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and a small part of Turkey. Charles Issawi, an authority on the Middle East, has compiled and edited a comprehensive selection of documents from sources in English and seven other languages (all translated), the majority published here for the first time. His own substantive chapter introductions and the 154 selections cover all aspects of nineteenth century economic life in the region: social life and organization, trade, transport, and public and private finance.

This is the first comprehensive history and economic analysis of the Fertile Crescent during the 19th century, a region currently encompassing Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and a small part of Turkey. Presenting 155 carefully selected documents--the majority drawn from British and French archives and here published for the first time, the balance translated from Arabic, French, German, Russian, Hebrew, Italian, and Turkish sources--Issawi provides an in-depth treatment of the economic life of the region, with chapters on social life and organization, trade, transport, agriculture, industry, and public and private finance. Including extensive cross-references that pinpoint the connections between the subjects discussed, the book is an invaluable resource on a historically rich and dynamic region.

'the volume will be extremely valuable to anyone involved in teaching or studying the economic history of the region ... Issawi has written a fine, pioneering work' M.E. Yapp, School of Oriental and African Studies, Business History, July '90