Adriatic

Spanning more than two thousand years, this history follows the peoples and nations along the Adriatic, from Italy to Croatia and beyond, beginning in the Roman era. Its scope covers the entire eastern Mediterranean area surrounding the Adriatic and part of the neighboring Ionian Sea. Over these centuries the region passed from one great empire to another and was occupied by the British in more recent times. It was also here that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had its origins, and its downfall after the First World War is covered.

The author carries the story into the twentieth century, reaching as far as the point when the former Yugoslavia broke apart once again. Rather than treating each nation in isolation, the book examines how the countries around the sea shaped one another. It looks at the partnerships they formed, often through trade or marriages between royal houses, and at the rivalries that split states apart and led to wars, invasions or the overthrow of governments.

Personal stories of individuals from many different periods run through the narrative and show what mattered to people at the time. Major political, cultural and economic developments are discussed alongside the great conflicts, which range from the earliest Roman campaigns through the Crusades to the battles of the Second World War. The account is easy to follow for general readers.