"The Persian Gulf occupies a crucial geostrategic position. Its importance for civilization began in remote antiquity and has continued to the present. Traditionally it served as a catalyst for trade and cultural exchange, now it is best known for the vast reserves of oil and natural gas that lie along its coasts both underground and under the sea bottom. These belong to a series of modern states including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. This book presents a history of the Persian Gulf both before and after the discovery of these resources and describes the region's natural setting and cultural contribution."--Jacket.