Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia

The iconic deserts of the American southwest were colonized and settled with the help of desert experts from the Middle East, such as a caravan of thirty-three camels in 1856. This exchange of colonial technologies bound the two regions together, solidifying the colonization of the US West and the reach of American power into the Middle East.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2023
Publisher: Verso Books

The captivating deserts of the American Southwest stand as a testament to the profound influence of desert experts from the Middle East. In 1856, a remarkable caravan of thirty-three camels arrived in Indianola, Texas, led by a Syrian cameleer known as Hi Jolly. The United States government harbored high hopes that this camel corps would play a pivotal role in securing the newly acquired southwest region, recently wrested from Mexico. Regrettably, the dream of the camel corps, as well as the camels themselves, met an untimely demise. Nevertheless, the notion of tapping into the expertise, knowledge, and practices of the desert countries of the Middle East endured.

In her captivating and narrative history, Natalie Koch unveils the intricate exchange of colonial technologies between the Arabian Peninsula and the United States over the past two centuries. From the cultivation of date palms and desert agriculture to the visionary sci-fi dreams of Biosphere 2 and Frank Herbert's Dune, these exchanges have woven a profound bond between the two regions. This interconnectedness has solidified the colonization of the American West and, ultimately, extended the reach of American power into the Middle East. Koch's insightful teachings invite us to reimagine deserts as arid empires, vital political spaces where imperial dreams converge. Through her meticulous research and compelling storytelling, she offers a fresh perspective on these iconic landscapes, challenging us to see them as more than mere mythic sites of romance or desolate wastelands. Instead, she reveals their significance as critical components of global history, shaping the trajectory of nations and cultures alike.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 217 x 147 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839763694