Excellent book, due for a 2023 update. ( )

The Black Sea was the center of so much history but seems to receive too little attention. This book is a well-written introduction to the history of the Black Sea and its surrounding countries. ( )

This book accomplishes its objective of providing a overview of the history of the region, from the period before the Greeks up until the present day. Coverage includes: trade and religious influences, Greek and Roman colonisation, population migration across the northern shores, the rise of imperial Russia and the Ottomans, conflict and issues surrounding the former Soviet republics, oil politics and even environmental problems.

Given the enormous scope, individual subjects are not dealt with in great depth but the extensive referencing, provided at the end of each chapter rather than all in the back, could direct follow-up reading if desired. The writing style is what can be expected from a good academic author yet is not at all dull, perhaps owing to the brevity required to cover so vast an area in approximately 300 pages of, albeit small, text. Snippets of information concerning the author's own travel around the sea also add life to a book that taught me a lot and entertained me considerably. ( )