Synopsis
Describes the history, geography, government, economy, people, and culture of Pakistan.
Karen Leggett - Children's Literature
"What is this life of yours, tell me its mystery Trampled in dust is your ages-old history!" The book opens with poetry from Muhammad Iqbal, an Indian poet who wanted Muslims to "rise and become a great force in the world, as was their destiny." When India and Pakistan were partitioned in 1947, Pakistan did become the Muslim homeland in the region. It is identified as one of the cradles of civilization along with Egypt and Mesopotamia. Geographic details which can often be mundane and meaningless are given some life by such details as Heinrich Harrer's attempt to climb Nanga Parbat, a mountain now in Tibet. Harrer's experiences gave rise to the movie Seven Years in Tibet. The author also offers an interesting discussion of rivers as one of the "key ingredients of civilization." The Indus River is as great as the Nile, in this author's opinion, just less well known to Americans. Young readers will also learn that even though the word Pakistan means "land of the pure" in Urdu, there is an incredible diversity of tribes and traditions within this small Islamic country. Once again, as is so often the case in the Middle East, boundaries were drawn by colonial powers with little regard for tribal and ethnic realities. The series does an excellent job of providing context and explanation for the modern states, rather than just a long narrative about dates, names and battles. Because of its size and organization, the book looks like a middle school book but the reading level is more appropriate to high school. There is plenty to discuss and individual chapters may be read independently. The chronology and index are thorough so it is useful for reference and student reports. The seriesincludes titles on nearly two-dozen countries from Georgia and Germany to Bahrain, Bermuda and Cuba. 2003, Chelsea House,