National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East [Paperback]

National Geographic Society (Author), National Geographic (Author), Carl Mehler (Author)

Book Description

Series: National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East | Publication Date: March 25, 2003

As the world focuses its attention on the Middle East, National Geographic presents a collection of new, customised maps that address this critical region at the crossroads of faith and conflict. Geographically, politically, thematically and chronologically organised this atlas is an accessible reference to a turbulent area prominent in headlines hearts and minds.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (March 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792250664
• ISBN-13: 978-0792250661
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #772,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BUT..., April 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East (Paperback)

not very complete.The printing,paper and pictures are of the highest quality.The maps,classic "National Geographic" style,are good(Though I'd prefer Bertelsmann maps).But it's "Linguistic Groups Map" is highly inconsistent with "Ethnic Groups Map"(which is generally if not fully authenthic).
For instance, in "Linguistic Groups Map" it is shown that in and around the Turkish province of "Siirt" the prevalent language is "Arabic" which is indeed true,but in "Ethnical Groups Map" that area is shown in "Kurdish" linguistic zone.However, the Turkish province of "Anteochea" which is shown as predominantly "Arabic" in its ethnicity,which is true,is shown in "Turkish" linguistic zone in "Linguistic Groups Map".Plus,the "Lazes"(an ethnic group named "Lazyges" in ancient times who are the Hellenized grandchildren of the ancient tribe known as "Sarmatians" along with "Roxolani") are not even mentioned in any of the maps or informative texts.The land(southeastern coasts of "Black Sea") on which they've been dwelling for thousands of years is unjustifiably included in "Turkish" ethnic and linguistic zones.
Also,the maps of the selected cities(just six of them) are inadequate.They should have included Mecca,Medina(the two holy cities),Dubai,Abu Daby,Doha,Aden,Sanaa,Amman and Istanbul too.The historic maps are insufficient as well.There should have have been the maps of the region in pre-"19th century" and the "Ottoman Empire" at it utmost borders.The "Regional Conflicts,1945-2002" is good but could be better.
Moreover, the "GDP per Capita" numbers for all the countries included are wholly wrong.Because they are taken from the "CIA World Fact Book".As they also mention in the "Acknowledgement" part, those GDP estimates are based on purchasing powers parity (PPP) conversion factor designed to equalize the purchasing powers of different countries.But unfortunately they do not reflect the real statistics.They could have taken the GDP estimates from the "United Nations Statistic Bureau" which gives the real levels of GDP.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very useful reference, March 24, 2003

By 

Eugene S. Pagano (OYSTER BAY, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East (Paperback)

This new atlas will be a very useful reference even after the invasion of Iraq is over. It contains a detailed map of each country in the area and of some major cities. The book also has a section of maps on "regional themes" such as climate, population, religion and resources, and a brief historical section.

It is not perfect, however. It is inexplicable that there is no map of Istanbul, one of the largest cities in the region. Maps of Mecca and Medina should have also been included. A map of religious sites (p. 66) says that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount on (not near) the Sea of Galilee! The same map should also have identified Ephesus, associated with St. Paul, St. John and St. Mary. A few pre-twentieth century maps should also have been included, such as the Abassid Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire at their maximum areas. These maps would help show how the area, now so divided, was once much more unified.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars very little detail, January 11, 2010

By 

Dr. Horace Greeley "Horace Greeley" (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East (Paperback)

I was naturally hoping for maps with more detail than what I find in the normal family atlas. These maps do not provide that. The only good news here is that the product was quite cheap (for a reason, it turns out), so I was not out a lot of dough. It strikes me as a marketing ploy: a book dedicated to maps of the Middle East, easily created by simply extracting existing maps from the NG family atlas, attracting readers who have a particular interest in the ME. Even tho it was inexpensive, I do feel I got taken.