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Review: [untitled]

Author(s): Nabia Abbott

Reviewed work(s): The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East by Daniel

Lerner

Source: Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 19, No. 3, (Jul., 1960), pp. 238-240

Published by: The University of Chicago Press

Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/543783

Accessed: 10/04/2008 04:13

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JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIESOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIESOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIESthe Free World and the northern half of thegreat continent of Africa. NABIA ABBOTTOriental InstituteUniversity of Chicago

the Free World and the northern half of thegreat continent of Africa. NABIA ABBOTTOriental InstituteUniversity of Chicago

the Free World and the northern half of thegreat continent of Africa. NABIA ABBOTTOriental InstituteUniversity of ChicagoSaudi Arabia. By K. S. TWITCHELL, with thecollaboration of EDWARD SURJI and R.

BAYLY WINDER. Third edition. Princeton:Princeton University Press, 1958. Pp. xiv+ 281, illus. $5.00.Those familiar with the earlier editions(1947, 1953) of this handy, timely, and his-torically important account by an activelyparticipating eyewitness of the dramaticpolitical and economic developments of SaCfidiArabia, will welcome this up-to-date, lively,lucid, and richly illustrated edition of thework. New readerswill find the work illumina-ting in its broad-minded and far-sightedapproach to the economic policies and possi-bilities of this comparatively little known-except for its oil-major Islamic country ofthe Middle East. The work is organized intothree parts: characteristic features of SacfidiArabia, social and political developments,and the position of Sacidi Arabia in worldeconomy.The author's personal and nonpolitical con-tact with the country, its rulers, and itspeople dates back to 1931. His first-handaccount of the initial stages of mining explo-ration, Ibn Sacfid's great concern with thesearch for water, the unexpected major oildiscoveries, the rugged search for foreigncapital in the depression years, and thesubsequent evaluation of Aramco makefascinating reading.The author, unlike too many others, doesnot consciously or otherwise neglect orunderplay the role of the rulers and adminis-trators in the historic changes of twentieth-century Sacfidi Arabia. Nor does he tread onforeign, particularly British, toes in doingthis. He avoids involvement in the pros andcons of the morality of the political settle-ments following the two World Wars (chap.xiii) but does not hesitate to express himself,from direct personal knowledge of that issue,

Saudi Arabia. By K. S. TWITCHELL, with thecollaboration of EDWARD SURJI and R.BAYLY WINDER. Third edition. Princeton:Princeton University Press, 1958. Pp. xiv+ 281, illus. $5.00.Those familiar with the earlier editions

(1947, 1953) of this handy, timely, and his-torically important account by an activelyparticipating eyewitness of the dramaticpolitical and economic developments of SaCfidiArabia, will welcome this up-to-date, lively,lucid, and richly illustrated edition of thework. New readerswill find the work illumina-ting in its broad-minded and far-sightedapproach to the economic policies and possi-bilities of this comparatively little known-except for its oil-major Islamic country ofthe Middle East. The work is organized intothree parts: characteristic features of SacfidiArabia, social and political developments,and the position of Sacidi Arabia in worldeconomy.The author's personal and nonpolitical con-tact with the country, its rulers, and itspeople dates back to 1931. His first-handaccount of the initial stages of mining explo-ration, Ibn Sacfid's great concern with thesearch for water, the unexpected major oildiscoveries, the rugged search for foreigncapital in the depression years, and thesubsequent evaluation of Aramco makefascinating reading.The author, unlike too many others, doesnot consciously or otherwise neglect orunderplay the role of the rulers and adminis-trators in the historic changes of twentieth-century Sacfidi Arabia. Nor does he tread onforeign, particularly British, toes in doingthis. He avoids involvement in the pros andcons of the morality of the political settle-ments following the two World Wars (chap.xiii) but does not hesitate to express himself,from direct personal knowledge of that issue,

Saudi Arabia. By K. S. TWITCHELL, with thecollaboration of EDWARD SURJI and R.BAYLY WINDER. Third edition. Princeton:Princeton University Press, 1958. Pp. xiv+ 281, illus. $5.00.Those familiar with the earlier editions

(1947, 1953) of this handy, timely, and his-torically important account by an activelyparticipating eyewitness of the dramaticpolitical and economic developments of SaCfidiArabia, will welcome this up-to-date, lively,lucid, and richly illustrated edition of thework. New readerswill find the work illumina-ting in its broad-minded and far-sightedapproach to the economic policies and possi-bilities of this comparatively little known-except for its oil-major Islamic country ofthe Middle East. The work is organized intothree parts: characteristic features of SacfidiArabia, social and political developments,and the position of Sacidi Arabia in worldeconomy.The author's personal and nonpolitical con-tact with the country, its rulers, and itspeople dates back to 1931. His first-handaccount of the initial stages of mining explo-ration, Ibn Sacfid's great concern with thesearch for water, the unexpected major oildiscoveries, the rugged search for foreigncapital in the depression years, and thesubsequent evaluation of Aramco makefascinating reading.The author, unlike too many others, doesnot consciously or otherwise neglect orunderplay the role of the rulers and adminis-trators in the historic changes of twentieth-century Sacfidi Arabia. Nor does he tread onforeign, particularly British, toes in doingthis. He avoids involvement in the pros andcons of the morality of the political settle-ments following the two World Wars (chap.xiii) but does not hesitate to express himself,from direct personal knowledge of that issue,

on the current Buraimi dispute (pp. 209 f.).The average Sacfdi Arabian receives somerecognition. His adaptability and industryare noted in the pertinent references toSacfidiArabian private enterprise in regionaltrade and in small industries. The role offoreign companies, especially that of Aramco,in transforming unskilled SaCfidi Arabiansinto skilled laborers, mechanics, and ablesupervisors is well told. The extent andsuccess of this co-operation may come as asurprise to some. While oil looms steadily inthe economic survey, other mineral resources,animal husbandry, and agriculture are by nomeans obscured. The author's careful studyand explorations have uncovered severalpromising possibilities for future develop-ments in all three fields as also in that oftransportation. His vision includes the siteof a future summer resort for residentforeigners, tourist centers-the sacred citiesof Mecca, Medina, and Ta?if excluded-forenterprising western travelers, and acceler-ated interest in archeological explorations.A serious effort is made to analyze theproblems that arise from the size and theneeds of the royal family and sincere admira-tion is, as a rule, expressed for the role andachievements of its leaders. Ruler and ruled,it would seem, are judged to be capable ofachieving an orderly transition into legiti-mate modernity. The author closes on theoptimistic note: "To me the future ofSacfdi Arabia is full of promise."The present edition enhances the value ofthe work by the inclusion of a larger numberof illustrations and maps and by the additionof a bibliography. Errors are few; thosereadily noticed involve inconsistencies infigures (e.g., on pp. 24 versus 65 and 26versus 32). NABIA ABBOTTThe Oriental InstituteUniversity of Chicago

The Passing of Traditional Society: Moderniz-ing the Middle East. By DANIEL LERNERwith the collaboration of LUCILLE W.

on the current Buraimi dispute (pp. 209 f.).The average Sacfdi Arabian receives somerecognition. His adaptability and industryare noted in the pertinent references toSacfidiArabian private enterprise in regionaltrade and in small industries. The role offoreign companies, especially that of Aramco,in transforming unskilled SaCfidi Arabiansinto skilled laborers, mechanics, and ablesupervisors is well told. The extent andsuccess of this co-operation may come as asurprise to some. While oil looms steadily inthe economic survey, other mineral resources,animal husbandry, and agriculture are by nomeans obscured. The author's careful studyand explorations have uncovered severalpromising possibilities for future develop-ments in all three fields as also in that oftransportation. His vision includes the siteof a future summer resort for residentforeigners, tourist centers-the sacred citiesof Mecca, Medina, and Ta?if excluded-forenterprising western travelers, and acceler-ated interest in archeological explorations.A serious effort is made to analyze theproblems that arise from the size and theneeds of the royal family and sincere admira-tion is, as a rule, expressed for the role andachievements of its leaders. Ruler and ruled,it would seem, are judged to be capable ofachieving an orderly transition into legiti-mate modernity. The author closes on theoptimistic note: "To me the future ofSacfdi Arabia is full of promise."The present edition enhances the value ofthe work by the inclusion of a larger numberof illustrations and maps and by the additionof a bibliography. Errors are few; thosereadily noticed involve inconsistencies infigures (e.g., on pp. 24 versus 65 and 26versus 32). NABIA ABBOTTThe Oriental InstituteUniversity of Chicago

The Passing of Traditional Society: Moderniz-ing the Middle East. By DANIEL LERNERwith the collaboration of LUCILLE W.

on the current Buraimi dispute (pp. 209 f.).The average Sacfdi Arabian receives somerecognition. His adaptability and industryare noted in the pertinent references toSacfidiArabian private enterprise in regionaltrade and in small industries. The role offoreign companies, especially that of Aramco,in transforming unskilled SaCfidi Arabiansinto skilled laborers, mechanics, and ablesupervisors is well told. The extent andsuccess of this co-operation may come as asurprise to some. While oil looms steadily inthe economic survey, other mineral resources,animal husbandry, and agriculture are by nomeans obscured. The author's careful studyand explorations have uncovered severalpromising possibilities for future develop-ments in all three fields as also in that oftransportation. His vision includes the siteof a future summer resort for residentforeigners, tourist centers-the sacred citiesof Mecca, Medina, and Ta?if excluded-forenterprising western travelers, and acceler-ated interest in archeological explorations.A serious effort is made to analyze theproblems that arise from the size and theneeds of the royal family and sincere admira-tion is, as a rule, expressed for the role andachievements of its leaders. Ruler and ruled,it would seem, are judged to be capable ofachieving an orderly transition into legiti-mate modernity. The author closes on theoptimistic note: "To me the future ofSacfdi Arabia is full of promise."The present edition enhances the value ofthe work by the inclusion of a larger numberof illustrations and maps and by the additionof a bibliography. Errors are few; thosereadily noticed involve inconsistencies infigures (e.g., on pp. 24 versus 65 and 26versus 32). NABIA ABBOTTThe Oriental InstituteUniversity of Chicago

The Passing of Traditional Society: Moderniz-ing the Middle East. By DANIEL LERNERwith the collaboration of LUCILLE W.

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BOOK REVIEWSPEVSNER. Introduction by DAVID RIES-MAN. Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press,1958. Pp. xiii + 466. $7.50.This more or less experimental study in

the behavioral sciences has been blessed bythe dual sponsorship of the Bureau of AppliedSocial Research, Columbia University, andthe Center for International Studies, Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology. The firstwas largely responsible for the field workundertaken by several members of its staff,and the second provided the services of theauthors who supplemented, analyzed, andinterpreted the primarily statistical materialsat their disposal. The field work was sys-tematized to yield comparative data by theuse of a uniform questionnaire (Appendix A)to interview some 300-odd nationals in eachof the six countries visited-Turkey, Leba-non, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iran.Earlier versions of the Introduction and offour of the eleven chapters of the book haveappeared in various magazines and journals.They present the rationale of the basic socialtheory on which the study is based, theanalysis of comparative data, and the con-clusions reached in retrospects and prospects.The seven remaining chapters present for thefirst time the detailed materials relative tothe above named six Middle Eastern coun-tries. Two of these chapters are devoted toTurkey, which is Professor Lerner's ownspeciality and which he enthusiasticallyportrays as being well on its way from thepast toward the future.The initial project seems to have beendesigned for the successor states of theformer Ottoman Empire, that is, the Repub-lic of Turkey and the Arab lands. Localobstacles led to the omission of Iraq, forwhich Iran was then substituted (pp. 1, 80,351). No reason is given for the omission ofeither Sacfdi Arabia or Israel, the verypresence of which exerts tangible thoughdifferent influences on the psychological,economic, and political development of theentire Middle East. The popular representa-tion of these two countries as typifying ex-treme traditionalism and modernity islargely propagandistic. Those with long and

intimate knowledge of the Middle Eastrealize that Sacfdi Arabia is making remark-able progress, considering its backgroundand history, in the very media that areposited as indices of modernization: em-pathy, mobility, urbanization, and literacy.Israel, with its international populationrepresenting many levels of culture, each ofwhich is in some sort of transition, couldyield comprehensive data on many of theproblems investigated in this study that hasbeen ten years in the making.Omissions notwithstanding, students ofthe Middle East will welcome this work andits approach and some may even enjoy itonce the cumbersome sociological termino-logy is overcome. For the study provides aseat to the stirring drama that is beingenacted on the stage of the Middle East asthe old traditional society either yields to orresists the impact of modernity in suchvarying degrees as to produce an expandingtransitional society. The articulate membersin each group express a sense of bewilder-ment as they seek to recapture or discoveran identity compatible with their new desiresand aspirations. Nevertheless, in a situationso varied and fluid one may question if atotal of some 1600 responses to the experi-mental questionnaire can be considered asadequately representative of the presentscene. Certainly these responses alone are nosure guide to either the direction or the rateof future change in the Middle East.Not all the countries studied provide thesame degree of fascination or receive anequally brilliant treatment, in both of whichrespects the chapters on Turkey and Persiaare about the best-perhaps because em-pathy is here supplemented with a measureof sympathy. The economic and politicaldilemmas facing President Nasser of theUnited Arab Republic receive a penetratinganalysis. But the over-all view of the role ofEgypt's Nasser in Arab nationalism reflectsno more than the current climate of opinion.The view presented of the region as a wholeis too narrowly bound by the presentpolitical boundaries, which have themselvesresulted from the impact of the West, and

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JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIESOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIEStoo little concerned with the long history andenduring force of the social and religiousmores that give Islamic society a unity thattranscends these artificial political divisions.

The work comes provided with construc-tive criticism, for David Riesman's fifteenpage Introduction is largely in the nature ofa sociologist's critique of the theory, ade-quacy of methods, and the conclusions of thework. It contributes much to the real valueof the work when read both before and afterthe main text.

NABIA ABBOTTOriental Institute

University of ChicagoExcavation Coins from the Persepolis Region.

By GEORGE C. MILES. ("NumismaticNotes and Monographs," No. 143.) NewYork: American Numismatic Society,1959. Pp. v + 124 + XXI pls. $5.00.The coins catalogued in the present mono-

graph were discovered during the excavationsof 1935-1937, in some of which the authorhimself participated, under the directorshipof Dr. Erich F. Schmidt on behalf of theOriental Institute of the University ofChicago, the University Museum of Phila-delphia, and the Museum of Fine Arts,Boston. The coins are now equally dividedbetween the Persian government and theOriental Institute. The find consists of 1143coins over a thousand of which are Islamic.The date range is from about 310 B.C. toabout A.D. 1848. The coins are cataloguedchronologically within each of three divisionsaccording to provenience: Istakhr (1051),Persepolis Terrace (19), and Nagsh-i Rustam(73).Inasmuch as the excavations covered buta small part of the region, the author haswisely refrained from drawing general con-clusions as to the economic and historicsignificance of the individual sites for anygiven period represented by the coin issues.Nevertheless, the wealth and variety of earlyIslamic coins from Istakhr reflect that city'scommercial prosperity in the seventh and

too little concerned with the long history andenduring force of the social and religiousmores that give Islamic society a unity thattranscends these artificial political divisions.

The work comes provided with construc-tive criticism, for David Riesman's fifteenpage Introduction is largely in the nature ofa sociologist's critique of the theory, ade-quacy of methods, and the conclusions of thework. It contributes much to the real valueof the work when read both before and afterthe main text.

NABIA ABBOTTOriental Institute

University of ChicagoExcavation Coins from the Persepolis Region.

By GEORGE C. MILES. ("NumismaticNotes and Monographs," No. 143.) NewYork: American Numismatic Society,1959. Pp. v + 124 + XXI pls. $5.00.The coins catalogued in the present mono-

graph were discovered during the excavationsof 1935-1937, in some of which the authorhimself participated, under the directorshipof Dr. Erich F. Schmidt on behalf of theOriental Institute of the University ofChicago, the University Museum of Phila-delphia, and the Museum of Fine Arts,Boston. The coins are now equally dividedbetween the Persian government and theOriental Institute. The find consists of 1143coins over a thousand of which are Islamic.The date range is from about 310 B.C. toabout A.D. 1848. The coins are cataloguedchronologically within each of three divisionsaccording to provenience: Istakhr (1051),Persepolis Terrace (19), and Nagsh-i Rustam(73).Inasmuch as the excavations covered buta small part of the region, the author haswisely refrained from drawing general con-clusions as to the economic and historicsignificance of the individual sites for anygiven period represented by the coin issues.Nevertheless, the wealth and variety of earlyIslamic coins from Istakhr reflect that city'scommercial prosperity in the seventh and

eighth centuries. The number of Sassanian,Arab-Sassanian, and Umayyad issues add toour still incomplete knowledge of the earlyMuslims' experimentation with coinage. Thehybrid coins in particular throw interestinglight on the use of human and animal repre-sentation in early Islamic issues. However,Unvala's suggestion that the winged horseon a few Arab-Sassanian and hybridissues may perhaps represent Muhammad'slegendary Buraq (pp. 41 f.) seems somewhatfar-fetched.

A number of the early Islamic coins are ofspecial interest for their details of politicalsignificance, such as the use of the Abbasidpropaganda slogan (pp. 51, 66 f.) and thenames of heirs and wazirs. Also of interest isthe use of several abbreviations whosesignificance is not always clear. The initialand separate forms of the letter ha' couldalso stand for the dotted sister letter jim andas such perhaps stand for either ,r. or jr.which appear on other coins (pp. 95, 50, 58,87). Many of the coins permit only a tenta-tive identification. Apart from these and thelarge number of badly damaged and there-fore unidentifiable issues, the author threadshis way carefully through the entire collec-tion to pin down some half-dozen newUmayyad and thirty new Abbasid issues andthree new mints. He draws attention to someunique coins (pp. 47, 66, 101)and takes theopportunity to correct some previous errors(pp. 52, 77, 100). His industry in a taxingfield where it is impossible at times to dis-tinguish a late Pahlavi from an early Kuficinscription (p. 103) is indeed commendable.An Inventory of Field Catalogue Numbersis provided for those interested in proveni-ence as evidence for the dating of levels orobjects (pp. 108-15). Indexes of dates, ofmints and places, of personal names, andof Arabic inscriptions and eighteen plates ofrepresentative illustrations round out thisuseful and welcome monograph.NABIA ABBOTT

Oriental InstituteUniversity of Chicago

eighth centuries. The number of Sassanian,Arab-Sassanian, and Umayyad issues add toour still incomplete knowledge of the earlyMuslims' experimentation with coinage. Thehybrid coins in particular throw interestinglight on the use of human and animal repre-sentation in early Islamic issues. However,Unvala's suggestion that the winged horseon a few Arab-Sassanian and hybridissues may perhaps represent Muhammad'slegendary Buraq (pp. 41 f.) seems somewhatfar-fetched.

A number of the early Islamic coins are ofspecial interest for their details of politicalsignificance, such as the use of the Abbasidpropaganda slogan (pp. 51, 66 f.) and thenames of heirs and wazirs. Also of interest isthe use of several abbreviations whosesignificance is not always clear. The initialand separate forms of the letter ha' couldalso stand for the dotted sister letter jim andas such perhaps stand for either ,r. or jr.which appear on other coins (pp. 95, 50, 58,87). Many of the coins permit only a tenta-tive identification. Apart from these and thelarge number of badly damaged and there-fore unidentifiable issues, the author threadshis way carefully through the entire collec-tion to pin down some half-dozen newUmayyad and thirty new Abbasid issues andthree new mints. He draws attention to someunique coins (pp. 47, 66, 101)and takes theopportunity to correct some previous errors(pp. 52, 77, 100). His industry in a taxingfield where it is impossible at times to dis-tinguish a late Pahlavi from an early Kuficinscription (p. 103) is indeed commendable.An Inventory of Field Catalogue Numbersis provided for those interested in proveni-ence as evidence for the dating of levels orobjects (pp. 108-15). Indexes of dates, ofmints and places, of personal names, andof Arabic inscriptions and eighteen plates ofrepresentative illustrations round out thisuseful and welcome monograph.NABIA ABBOTT

Oriental InstituteUniversity of Chicago

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