In the nineteenth century The Dead Sea and the Tigris-Euphrates river system had great political significance: the one as a possible gateway for a Russian invasion of Egypt, the other as a potentially faster route to India. This is the traditional explanation for the presence of the international powers in the region. This important new book questions this view. Through a study of two important projects of the time - international efforts to determine the exact level of the Dead Sea, and Chesney's Euphrates Expedition to find a quicker route to India - Professor Goren shows how other forces than the interests of empire, were involved. He reveals the important role played by private individuals and establishes a wealth of new connections between the key players; and he reveals for the first time an important Irish nexus. The resulting work adds an important new dimension to our existing understanding of this period. ""This is a work of exemplary scholarship -- learned, reflective, and deeply considered."" -- Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History, Kings College, University of London Haim Goren is an historical geographer in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Tel-Hai College, Israel. His main fields of interest are European activity in Ottoman Palestine and the Near East, the history of the scientific study of that region, mainly the Holy Land, and pilgrim and traveller literature.