The Near East 10,000 Years of History
Asimov chronicles 10,000 years of Near East history: from civilization's dawn, through empires' rise and fall, revealing continuity and enduring importance.
Isaac Asimov's The Near East: 10,000 Years of History is not a fictional tale with a contrived plot, but rather a grand chronicle, presenting the rich and complex history of a region fundamental to human civilization. Like many of Asimov's works, whether fact or fiction, it approaches its subject with a keen sense of structure, moving logically and clearly through vast stretches of time. One could say that the "story" it tells is the true, sweeping narrative of humanity's journey in this crucial part of the world, revealing how events and developments build upon one another over millennia.
The book begins at the very dawn of settled human life. It sets the stage in the Fertile Crescent, the cradle where agriculture first blossomed. Here, the domestication of plants like wheat and barley allowed people to stay in one place, leading to the formation of early communities and eventually, the very first cities. Asimov describes how key innovations, like the irrigation techniques developed by the Sumerians, created food surpluses, which in turn led to new ways of organizing society, governing people, and even inventing communication systems like writing. The early city-states, such as Ur, Uruk, and Lagash, are presented as the initial building blocks of civilization, the foundational "chapters" from which the rest of the story unfolds. Everything that follows in the narrative springs directly from these early developments in settling down, farming, and organizing.
From these foundational city-states, the narrative logically progresses to the Age of Empires. Asimov shows how the concept of rule expanded, moving from individual cities to vast territories united under single powers. The Akkadian Empire is highlighted as the first of its kind, marking an evolution in how societies were administered and how military power was organized. The book then traces the rise and fall of successive major players – the Babylonians, Assyrians, Hittites, and Mitanni – demonstrating a recurring pattern in the region's history. These periods are crucial because they show the development of more complex political systems, the spread of ideas and technology through cultural exchange, and the volatile nature of regional power dynamics. While focusing primarily on Mesopotamia, Asimov weaves in the parallel development of Egypt and its interactions with these Near Eastern powers, showing the interconnectedness of the region even in these early periods.
The historical narrative, however, is not a simple linear progression upwards. Asimov includes periods of dramatic upheaval and decline, such as the sudden collapse at the end of the Bronze Age. He explores various factors contributing to this widespread breakdown, including external pressures and internal instability. This "dark age" saw the loss of established systems, yet, crucially, Asimov shows how new groups began to emerge during this time, setting the stage for the next phase. The transition to the Iron Age marked another significant shift, transforming areas like warfare and agriculture. This period saw the rise of powers like the Assyrians, who built a vast and formidable empire through sheer military and administrative efficiency. Their eventual collapse, detailed by Asimov, is presented not as an end, but as a consequence of their own actions and limitations, paving the way for new contenders.
Following the Assyrian decline, the book chronicles the ascendance of the Neo-Babylonians, famous for their cultural achievements and the splendor of their capital, Babylon. Simultaneously, the Medes played a critical role, setting the stage for the rise of an empire of unprecedented scale. The Persian Empire, under leaders like Cyrus the Great, represents a significant evolution in the historical narrative. Asimov presents the Persians not just as conquerors but as innovators in governance, known for their tolerance and sophisticated administration. This vast empire's interactions, particularly its conflicts with the Greek city-states, marked a pivotal intersection of Eastern and Western worlds. Its eventual decline, from internal issues and external pressures, highlights the challenges even the most powerful empires faced, demonstrating that no stage of the "story" is permanent.
The narrative then shifts with the arrival of Alexander the Great, whose conquests brought a wave of Hellenistic culture to the region. Asimov details the fascinating blending of Greek and local traditions in new urban centers. While Greek rule, through successor states like the Seleucid Empire, eventually weakened, the Hellenistic period left an indelible mark, adding another layer to the region's complex identity. The subsequent entry of Rome onto the scene introduced a new major power from the west. Asimov highlights the long-standing struggle between Rome and the resurgent Persian powers, first the Parthians and later the Sassanids. This constant rivalry shaped the geopolitical landscape for centuries, while within Roman-controlled areas, tensions between local populations and the new rulers, particularly among Jewish communities, led to significant revolts and population movements. The rise of Christianity within the Roman Empire added another layer of complexity, influencing religious dynamics in the Near East.
A monumental turning point in the historical narrative comes with the swift rise of Islam. Asimov explains how the unification of Arab tribes under a new faith and social order enabled them to conquer vast territories from the weakened Byzantine (Eastern Roman) and Sassanid empires. The establishment of the Umayyad and later the Abbasid caliphates extended the influence of this new force across a massive area. The Abbasid period, centered in Baghdad, is presented as a "Golden Age," a time of remarkable intellectual and cultural flourishing that drew on the rich heritage of the conquered lands. This era showcases how the Islamic world became a new center of civilization, absorbing and building upon the knowledge of previous empires, even as the caliphate itself gradually fragmented.
Following the Abbasid decline and the disruptive Mongol invasions, the narrative moves to the rise of the Ottomans. Emerging from Anatolia, the Ottomans steadily built a powerful empire that eventually encompassed much of the Near East. Their capture of Constantinople marked a symbolic shift and established a new, long-lasting power structure. Asimov describes the peak of Ottoman power and efficiency under Suleiman the Magnificent, followed by a slow, inexorable decline due to stagnation and the increasing encroachment of European powers. This period of decline, marked by internal challenges and external pressures, set the stage for the major transformations of the modern era.
The final chapters of the book bring the narrative to the present day, exploring the profound impact of European influence, the rise of nationalism among the diverse peoples of the region, the redrawing of borders after World War I, and the emergence of persistent conflicts that continue to shape the Near East. Asimov's approach throughout is to show how the past informs the present, how the seeds planted in earlier eras bear fruit, sometimes bitter, in later ones.
In his conclusion, Asimov emphasizes that despite the countless invasions, empires, and revolutions detailed in the book, the Near East has maintained an enduring importance as a central point for human civilization. He stresses the theme of continuity, showing how the languages, religions, and political ideas that originated or developed here have profoundly influenced global history. The book encourages readers to view this long history not as isolated events but as a continuous, evolving tapestry woven by human actions and interactions. By presenting this vast historical span with his characteristic clarity and logical flow, Asimov provides a guided tour that reveals how the past lives on, demonstrating the complex and interconnected nature of this enduring "story" of the Near East. The strength of the book lies in its ability to distill millennia into a coherent narrative, constantly highlighting the consequences of earlier events for later developments, making the history accessible and revealing the deep roots of the region's present state.
