Description: The first volume in a series that examines the spread of cultures from the East into Europe
Brief description: Warwick Ball is a Near Eastern archaeologist and award-winning author of many books including Out of Arabia: Phoenicians, Arabs, and the Discovery of Europe and Towards One World: Ancient Persia and the West.
Review Quotes: "An original and thought-provoking approach to Arab history... most writers today whose work examines the relationship between Arabs and 'the West', Ball is determined to avoid an approach purely focused on confrontation... Whilst he obviously cannot avoid discussing conflict between Europeans and Arabs - most notably during the Crusades - Ball is keen to stress the more subtle and positive ways in which Europe has been affected by its contact with the Arabs. ... It would be a mistake, however, to view Arab history entirely within an Islamic context. ... Ball argues strongly that Islam should be viewed as a 'culmination' rather than a beginning. Fascinating early chapters examine the history of the Arabs' forbears, the Phoenicians... some of the outcomes are surprising, and remain little known today. How many people know, for example, that for much of the 10th century a large part of Switzerland was occupied by the Muslim descendents of Arab corsairs? ... Ball writes in a lively, engaging style that should carry most readers to the end of the book. More generally, this is a timely and interesting work that deserves to reach a wide readership. Out of Arabia is the first of a series of books examining the impact of 'Eastern' cultures on Europe, and I eagerly await the appearance of further volumes."