2008 Crucible of History, the Eastern Mediterranean

Few regions on Earth can match the Eastern Mediterranean for drama. Its story, written in stone and blood over five millennia, sweeps through history on the wings of empire: Egyptian, Phoenician, Hittite, Assyrian, Canaanite, Israelite, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine Christian, Arab Muslim, and Ottoman—all ruled this territory between the Nile and the mountains of Anatolia. Today, the region's inhabitants find themselves in troubled post-colonial societies, torn apart by epic conflicts, ranging from battles between Israelis and Palestinians for land and resources to the clash between Islam and the West. Explore the Eastern Mediterranean region with this engaging and informative map. Published in December 2008, this map was one half of a two-map set featuring "Jerusalem's Holy Ground."

.