How do we understand the heritage of the Levant? In the last few hundred years, the centre of cultural innovation has moved inexorably westwards, leaving us with too small a grasp of the turmoil out of which our own civilisation grew. In 2003 Rupert de Borchgrave set off on a journey of ideas that took him to the much-disputed grounds where the ancient world constructed the philosophical, religious, mathematical and artistic thinking that continues to shape our lives today. This book is the product of that journey and the musing that it gave rise to.

"An ambitious achievement, dense with rich material, about parts of the world we once knew much about, which many readers will now want to discover for themselves on the back of this journey."

In his professional career, Rupert de Borchgrave has been variously a neuroscientist, applied statistician, securities analyst, government economic advisor, whistle blower, and most recently the manager of a technology fund.