Stephen Longrigg - The Geography of the Middle East

T HE pages here following are, in my intention, far from constituting a text-book of Middle Eastern geography or society, or a political analysis of its many problems, or an orderly statistical or economic review; they are, indeed, no nearer to being a substitute for all or any of the many excellent books already published on these subjects than are the sketch-maps to taking the place of the large-scale atlas which, I hope, readers will have open at their elbows. I have felt compelled to pass over important aspects of the Middle Eastern region and its component countries, almost or entirely in silence: among such aspects being those of military resources, prominent personalities, constitutional or legal issues, budgets and balances of trade. And even on matters upon which I have tried to say something fairly specifictopography, races and languages, religions, climates, natural resources and agronomy, industry, communicationstoo little detailed information can be given in the compass available to satisfy a reader (perhaps, in this case, a student) desirous of a full picture of a given aspect of things in this or that territory. For most of such detail, and not less for an appreciation which may be widely different from mine, he can very easily look elsewhere : the literature of these countries, as of today, is abundant and accessible. My attempt has been to offer an objective but informed account of the different races and social forces found in Middle Eastern environments, urban and rural, in terms of the particular circumstances, problems and hopes of the dozen separate and more or less divided states of the region. It is my hope that the non-specialist reader may from all this learn something true and perhaps suggestive, while the expert may find not too much to offend him. The views expressed are those of one whose personal experience of these countries has been extensive, I hope receptive, and certainly sympathetic. In fully half of the territories covered, and particularly those of the Fertile Crescent, I have, as a long-term resident, had many friends over many years.

At the time of writing, much of the region is, as notably as any in the world, in a continuing state of visible, often revolutionary, change in almost every fieldsocial, cultural, economic, political. Time will, henceforward, greatly modify the conditions here presented. I have intended, therefore, chiefly to emphasize those aspects which, being the least ephemeral, are likely to remain valid for some years, and, I hope, to indicate the areas in which, and the lines on which, change, on indications already visible, is most to be expected. And if in the near future country A acquires or suppresses country B, country C changes its form of government to become a republic or a dictatorship, or discovers oil, and country D becomes a satellite of the U.S.S.R., the reader will at least be informed of the conditions out of whichor because of whichsuch change occurred.

In the method of spelling oriental names I have, like other orientalists anxious to avoid the appearance of pedantry, tried to compromise between correct and popular spellingswith results which, as usual, will certainly fail to please everybody.

The arrangement of relevant material to the best advantage and the readers convenience has proved a particularly puzzling problem: was it to be on a regional, or a country-by-country, or a subject-by-subject basis? And how were dullness and repetition to be best avoided? The solution adopted, one of inconsistent compromise, will not suit all tastes ; but to the dissatisfied I recommend the use of the two indices provided, whereby they will find, I hope, most of what there is to find.

The kindly individuals and corporations who have made their photographs available for these pages, to an extent which the list thereof will make plain, are hereby most cordially thanked.

S. H. L.

15th November, 1962.

A Second, revised and up-dated, Edition of this book having been demanded by its publishers, this has now been prepared and is offered to the public, seven years after original publication. In this work I have enjoyed the kind and efficient help of my friend James Jankowski, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Colorado. To him I have left, with relief and gratitude, by far the greater part of the work of incorporating herein, within sadly rigid limits of space and pagination, the main features, developments and events of the most recent years, since 1962.