The Black Sea: A History

Prior to starting this book, I knew very little, if any, about the Black Sea Region. Upon completion I came away with a much greater understanding of both the geographic area as well as how the regions contributed and continue to contribute differently throughout history. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for some insight into this part of the world.

A more accurate title for this book would probably be 'The Black Sea Region' as it is more a history of the surrounding territories and peoples than the sea itself. This is not to say that King doesn't describe the sea itself, but it just seemed to have a much more marginal role in the work than I had expected. Nevertheless, I thought the book was quite good. King starts off by giving us the physical origins of the sea. Although it seems to be agreed upon that the sea was once a lake, how exactly it became a sea is still apparently a matter of debate. Drawing upon recent evidence, King concludes that the Black Sea was formed by rising water levels in the adjacent Mediterranean Sea which overflowed into the lower level lake. Apparently, the sea has always been very turbulent which has been testified to by countless sailors throughout the ages. King swiftly moves on to the history of the region, which is a fascinating chronological account of both the indigenous inhabitants and subsequent foreign inavaders throughout the centuries. The result is a story of constantly shifting populations and empires including a vast array of peoples such as the Greeks, Romans, Scythians, Thracians, Rhos (Russians), Byzantines, Bulgars, Turks, Khazars, and Tatars. Much of the latter half of the second millennium consisted of the Russian and Ottoman Empires battling for control of the sea and region. King also gives a good analysis of the regional transition from empire to nationalism in the 20th century, as well as the "pipeline politics" of today. All in all, I think King does a good job at describing this often neglected region which, as witnessed by the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia, continues to be very relevant today. A very informative and satisfying read.

As an amateur historian I have moved beyond purely narrative history, such as David McCullough, but neither am I a scholar drawn to pot sherd dating. This history falls nicely between the two extremes. King's premise is that the Black Sea can be viewed as a historical and cultural entity given it's role in regional trade. He lays out how various civilizations developed along its shores from antiquity, beginning with shore-hugging navigation to cross-sea trade in more recent history. This approach illustrates patterns of and insight into the rise and fall of societies around the Black Sea. However, the delivery falls a bit short of the promise laid out in the introduction. The Black Sea was not the Meditteranean. Geography, as he points out, limited the development of purely Black Sea civilizations, and prevented homogenization of their societies. In addition, much of the history of these societies was dominated by outside forces -- such as the Romans, the Persians, and the Mongols. In the end, the idea of a Black Sea history as a stand-alone exercise is too much of a stretch to be credible. King makes a very good point, however, when he points out the danger these civilizations courted if they failed to secure the Black Sea for their own trade. Time and again, he shows how empires had their territory chipped away by their Black Sea neighbors once those empires stopped securing key ports. One of the delights of this book is that he deals with these Black Sea societies in their own right. Too often regional histories such as those of Rome/Byzantium will only mention rulers such as Mithridates when he becomes a military threat. I found it very satisfying to follow the rise and fall of Pontus and its interactions with neighbors such as the kingdom of Armenia. I found this history of the Black Sea to be well-written and engaging. For me, it helped fill in pieces of western civilization that have received scanty attention. His illustration of the Black Sea as a highway for societies rather than a barrier brougth a fresh perspective to the rise and fall of great civilizations such as Byzantium and Persia. I recommend this book to anyone else who seeks that middle ground of the amateur historian.

Charles King combines meticulous research with engrossing storytelling to produce a work that is at once intellectually rigorous and readable. Ambitious in its scope, the book traces the history of the Black Sea from the time of Greek trading colonies to the modern regional powers and environmental issues that characterize the sea and the states and peoples that surround it today. Not limiting itself to a narrow analysis, The Black Sea puts this region into a global perspective, and is a valuable read for anyone who is interested in this important part of the world, or in the past and future of regional confrontation and cooperation.