The Arabian Gulf has become in recent years one of the most promising new areas of research in ancient near-eastern archaeology. Until now, however, no attempt has been made to synthesize the archaeology and history of this region from the beginnings of human settlement to the rise of Islam. This magisterial two-volume work draws on a wide array of archaeological, epigraphic, and literary sources to present the first comprehensive study of the area. Volume I covers the Pleistocene to the Achaemenian period, including almost all the published evidence for the prehistory and history of the Arabian Gulf. Volume II covers the period from Alexander the Great to the coming of Islam, including full discussion of the history of Christianity in the area. Both volumes are illustrated with numerous line drawings and plates.