The Bazaar: Markets and Merchants of the Islamic World [Hardcover]

Walter M. Weiss (Author), Kurt-Michael Westerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

This volume is a journey through the bazaars in the old Islamic cities of the Orient. Beginning with a general outline of the history of trade, it examines the origins of the "city within a city" and the early Islamic fortresses and caravanserais. The path of goods is traced along legendary caravan routes such as the Silk, Incense and Amber Roads. The everyday workings of the bazaar are described, and the book focuses on traditional trades and crafts including gold and sugar traders' markets, the workshops of lute makers, fabric painters and mosaic carvers, glass-blowers and coppersmiths. Persian carpet-makers, engravers and perfumers, miniature painters and calligraphers are revealed at work, as are people whose exotic trades are now dying out - sword and fire makers, water sellers, foot ironers, magicians and storytellers. In the final section, more than a dozen of the finest bazaars are described and illustrated.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Travel writer Weiss and photographer Westermann combine their talents to produce a stunning tour of the bazaars of the old Islamic cities. The uniquely Islamic bazaar, explains Weiss, is "a city within a city, with its own economy and way of life and a spiritual background from which western society has a great deal to learn." The philosophy of the bazaar affects and is affected by religion, social customs, architecture, and the availability of water. To understand the concept of the bazaar, Weiss begins with a brief history of trade, its existence from earliest times, the effects of Mohammed's teachings, the four major trade routes, and a history of the camel and its place in Arab society. A section on shopkeepers and their goods covers history, their techniques, and the effects of modern life on their livelihood. Finally, brief visits to 15 of the great bazaars point out the qualities that makes each unique. A beautiful book without any real competition that will be of use for most collections.AMary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., Pittsburgh
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The Islamic bazaar, as veteran editor and traveler Weiss reveals, is more than a collection of flea market stalls. And his book, though illustrated with glorious photographs by Kurt-Michael Westermann, is more than a decoration for the coffee table. Here, peripatetic readers and couch potatoes alike will discover the true romance of this area, learning about trade routes, the religious life, camels, and craftspeople, as well as 15 bazaars, ranging in location from Aleppo in Syria to Samarkand in Uzbekistan. The text in combination with the visuals is mesmerizing; Weiss, for instance, describes the one-or two-humped ship of the desert--an animal that can drink up to 22 gallons of water in mere minutes--so factually that almost instant familiarity is born. Bazaars are featured in light of purchases and historical sights, accompanied by maps showing the location of different songs or markets. A picture book that destroys ancient myths while acknowledging beauties of the Middle East. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500018391
• ISBN-13: 978-0500018392
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 9.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,592,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb introduction to the world of the bazaar., October 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bazaar: Markets and Merchants of the Islamic World (Hardcover)

I have traveled extensively in the Middle East and North Africa, and my favorite places are the suqs, or bazaars of each city. I have actually visited half of the bazaars featured in this book, and therefore I can attest to the accuracy of the information provided. This book captures the variety, texture, and atmosphere of the bazaar. The only aspects missing are the sounds and the aromas. Of special interest and value are the maps of each bazaar, for wandering through a suq can be an overpowering experience. Nowhere else have I come upon this type of information. The photos are well done, showing both the people and their surroundings accurately, but beautifully. This book makes me want to pay a return visit to a bazaar, soon.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, September 8, 2001

By 

Robyn (Monterey Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bazaar: Markets and Merchants of the Islamic World (Hardcover)

I checked this out of the library, and when I get back from Syria and Lebanon, am going to buy it. An entirely different perspective from anything I've ever seen. Even if it does omit anything about the ongoing conflicts of the region, we already know all of that. This tells us and shows us something we don't know. When I'm walking through the bazaars in Damascus and Aleppo, I will be carrying this book in my head and seeing everything differently because of it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 28, 2006

By 

Lebanon (Doha, Qatar) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bazaar: Markets and Merchants of the Islamic World (Hardcover)

...I have not gone through the whole book yet, however what I have seen so far has been great and wonderful, highly recommended to anyone who loves travel or just for general interest, beautiful pictures, authors did an awsome job in writing this book, very knowledgable, comprehensive worth every penny...