F. E. Peters (1927–2020)

A superb book which probably suffers from an excess of ambition: it tries to be a history of events AND of culture/thought, spanning the very *ahem* lively centuries between Alexander's conquests and the "triumph of Christianity." There is almost no way the author can avoid (and he doesn't -- how could he?) a real bona-fide name-a-lanche, where this reader at least was constantly flipping pages back and forth muttering "OK, so Whose-a-la-mapsis was WHOSE daughter again? and WHO demolished the Temple of Umphalopatapis?" Unless you have a brain that can immediately seize upon and store for recall names and terms that come fast and keep coming, you'll probably do the same ... but in the end you'll be glad you read this. 800 (or so) VERY packed pages.… (mais)

This was one of the clearest and most understandable histories of the region of Palestine, and provides an excellent description of the basis of and validity of the claims to historical Jerusalem by the three major religions. Each religion has ruled over the region at various periods of history, and there have been recent claims and counter claims from both Jewish and Muslim groups as to which group has the most legitimate claim on the area. Recent political proposals have been made to declare Jerusalem an "international" city, open to all, or to divide the city between east and west sections, one being controlled by Jerusalem, and one half being a Muslim controlled area. If you find yourself undecided as to which of these options is best, you should find this book helpful in making a fair decision.
… (mais)