In this 2000 book, an international team of contributors offer a multidisciplinary approach to the evolution of nomadic society in the Middle East.

Introduction Martha Mundy and Basim Musallam; 1. Environment and development Paul Sanlaville; 2. The emergence of agriculture, animal husbandry and pastoral Nomadism in the Near East Jacques Cauvin; 3. Prehistoric and historic pastoral strategies in the Syrian Steppe A. V. G. Betts and K. W. Russell; 4. The Syrian Steppe during the last century of Ottoman rule: Hawran and the Palmyrena Norman Lewis; 5. Nomadic territory as a factor in defining Arabia's boundaries J. C. Wilkinson; 6. French Mandate policy in the Syrian Steppe Christian Velud; 7. State politics and Beduin adaptations in Saudi Arabia, 1900-80 Ugo Fabietti; 8. The politics of rural policy in East Jordan, 1920-89 Tariq Tall; 9. Government policy and protective systems in the arid regions of Syria since the 1930s Ronald Jaubert; 10. Shaykhs, peasants and party comrades: political change in Northern Syria Sulayman N. Khalaf; 11. The extension of sheep-rearing and agriculture in the Syrian Steppe Francoise Métral; 12. Production and trade in North Central Arabia: change and development in 'Unayzah Donald P. Cole and Soraya Altorki; 13. The destruction of resources among the mountain Nomads of Dhofar Jorg Janzen; 14. Strategies for the improvement of the cultivated zone M. J. Jones; 15. Linkages between livestock and agricultural systems in Syria T. T. Treacher; 16. International organisations and the settlement of Nomads in the Arab Middle East, 1950-90 Riccardo Bocco; A Bibliographic note: social science and Beduin societies in the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East Riccardo Bocco; Bibliography.