This was the best textbook I ever had and the course on Balkan history taught by Charles Jelavich at Indiana University, with this book, was the best I ever took. Unfortunately I lost my copy years ago. Now that the Mideast is once again a mess, I turned to look for a copy. I am happy to see it back in print, just sorry the price is so ridiculously high. The book is priceless, but to be contrary this price is too high. The paperback is worth it.

This is an indispensable resource for any one interested in Balkan History. It's a comprehensive and wide resource that takes you through the political, economic, and social history of the Balkans, organized by modern state with chapters from each time period on political developments and the Ottoman Empire as a whole. A special focus on ethnic and national issues makes it more than relevant today, despite its age.

The book by prof.Stavrianos was the last one I had on my list of books on the Balkans that I had planned to read as background material for my own work on the economies of the EU Candidate Countries, and especially of course the Southeastern ones (the other books were by Glenny, Hodos, Obolensky, Kaplan). It was also the thickest one at 850 pages but I must say it was a pleasure to read. The set-up by theme and by individual country is always clear, and there is a richness of detail and at the same time a broad sweep that gives a very good overview. This is indeed what makes this book an exellent and impressive reference work, as the other reviewers also indicated and with which i can only concur. This richness also sometimes made me skip a few pages as I was not interested in every detail but this is not a criticism per se; there will be something in this book for all interested in the Balkans without necessarily wanting to take note of all the information that is there.

For me as an economist, what the author makes clear and what struck me in particular was how the combination of economic (agricultural, industrial, financial, infrastructural) underdevelopment and social and political problems (health, education, ethnic and reliious) that are still present today in many of these countries, have been part of their history for centuries. This does not mean they are immutable (and becoming an EU Member is the best way to break this deadlock, I am convinced) but it shows how deep a legacy needs to be overcome. So for this insight already for me the book was well worth reading. In combination with M. Glenny who provides a modern history of the period 1800-1990s there is of course some overlap but I can recommend to have them both (Glenny is perhaps more lively written). Stavrianos will stand as the reference work by which others are measured.

Professor Stavrianos' useful scheme divides human societies into three phases: kinship societies, which prevailed until the agricultural revolution; tributary societies (or "civilizations"), and capitalist societies, which appeared around 1500 and dominate the world today. Through "lifeline" issues; ecology, gender relations, social relations, and war, the three society types are explored in detail and in relationship to each other and in linkage to our present and future.
The author's refreshingly clear and jargon-free writing brings to life the entire sweep of human history, and makes issues of vital interest accessible not only to the student of history but also the general reader. Highly recommended.

(The "score" rating is a feature of the page. This reviewer does not willingly "score" books.)

I've looked at a number of overviews of world history and this is my favorite. It's written with great knowledge and a balanced viewpoint. I really like that the causes and mechanisms of history are presented and not just a stream of facts. It's told with emphasis on the general not the detail - there's no page long sidebars on Michaelangelo for instance. There's lots of statistics and maps to show how the world was changing. The other book of it's type that I really liked is "Rise of the West" by William McNeil which has a similar outlook.

For anyone who knows an IHS student, this is the true experience - provided that it's followed by a 150 problem multiple choice test the next day. It's a long detailed read, with a strong tendency towards Marxist tones and theories. If you've got the time and attention span to sit still and concentrate long enough to get into this book, it really is a fascinating experience - well organized, factual, and with separate text from primary sources relevant to the chapter or section which provides continuing evidence or alternate opinions. Otherwise, I'll refer you to the friend with the cancer sticker. =)

I've looked at a number of overviews of world history and this is my favorite. It's written with great knowledge and a balanced viewpoint. I really like that the causes and mechanisms of history are presented and not just a stream of facts. It's told with emphasis on the general not the detail - there's no page long sidebars on Michaelangelo for instance. There's lots of statistics and maps to show how the world was changing. The other book of it's type that I really liked is "Rise of the West" by William McNeil which has a similar outlook.

Prof. Stavrianos showed us a real global history in which only the main flow of the divelopment of human society was sketched and explained, so we can go inside the logic of modernization without any duty to remember those meaningless but "important" information.

The author argues that from time to time we need a "dark age" to sweep away non-functional and contra-functional encrustments; and that the "dark ages" did not so much mean a loss of knowlege as a collapse of the old order of government. He also argues that the "Barbarians" did NOT cause the fall of the Roman Empire; that the empire fell of its own weight, and the barbarians merely delivered the coupe de grace and picked up the pieces.

However I'll add that the collapse of the empire surely must have meant the end of considerable long-distance commerce, and consequently a considerable reduction in prosperity.

(I read this book more that 20 years ago, and have not re-read it more recently.)