THE BIBLICAL WORLD: AN ILLUSTRATED ATLAS
Definitive Work Surveys Early History and Geographic Landscape of the Holy Land

Scene of the world's most famous narrative, the Holy Land is an eternal source of fascination, curiosity and awe. This land, known as the Fertile Crescent, stretching from Egypt and Israel to Syria and Mesopotamia (today's Iraq), gave birth to three great faiths -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Now, its hallowed history is gorgeously chronicled in THE BIBLICAL WORLD: AN ILLUSTRATED ATLAS (National Geographic Books; Nov. 6, 2007; ISBN: 978-1-4262-0138-7; $40).

From the dawn of human civilization to the seventh century, the book tracks the evolution of Judaism, the emergence and development of Christianity and the rise of Islam. Biblical people, sacred places and epic events, placed in the context of history, are brought to life in a stunning panorama, gloriously illustrated with hundreds of exquisite photographs and 50 all-new maps created by National Geographic's world-class cartographers.

Acclaimed author Dr. Jean-Pierre Isbouts skillfully employs a wide range of sources, drawing from ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian texts, biblical literature and the latest findings in archaeology, paleo-anthropology and forensics. His vibrant, multidimensional approach and non-denominational perspective give readers a fuller understanding of history and religion and of the drama that unfolds in the Bible. His impeccable research yields a history that is corroborated by archaeological evidence, much of which has been discovered and deciphered only in the last few decades. A panel of experts, including Dr. Bruce Chilton, who wrote the foreword, Dr. Eric Cline, Dr. Jacob Neusner and Dr. Frank Peters, consulted on the text. The book contains numerous sidebars and fact boxes describing everyday life in each biblical period and more than 60 timelines that link events across cultures and regions, compare religions and follow developments in nearby lands. For its scope, beauty and relevance in today's world, the atlas is destined to become a classic.

Isbouts holds a doctoral degree in archaeology and art history and is professor of culture and media studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, Calif. He is the writer and producer of four programs that explore the legacy of the Bible, including the award-winning television mini-series "The Quest for Peace."