In this 2000 book, Martha Mundy and Basim Musallam bring together an international team of contributors consisting of archaeologists, geographers, historians, anthropologists and agronomists in a penetrating, interdisciplinary account of the transformation of nomadic society. The chapters provide an integrated analysis of the changing relations of ecology, economy and socio-political organisation in the steppes of the central Middle East, documenting the longue-duree of history alongside the more rapid transformations of the twentieth century. A series of maps and figures illustrate the narrative while a bibliographic essay analyses the existing literature. This is an accessible and interactive book which provides a comprehensive overview of a fascinating and complex society. It will attract readers from a variety of disciplines, including those interested in contemporary environmental and development issues.