The book jacket "blurb" states that The Jews of Khazaria "recounts the eventful history of the kingdom of Khazaria, which was located in eastern Europe and flourished as an independent state from about 650 to 1016. In the ninth century, the Khazarian royalty and nobility as well as a significant portion of the Khazarian population embraced the Jewish religion. As a major world power, Khazaria enjoyed diplomatic and trade relations with many peoples and nations, and changed the course of medieval history in many ways."

The great strength of this work is that it brings the depth and breadth of a forgotten empire back into the light of historical knowledge by utilizing the full range of historical, archeological, literary and linguistic resources. Many of these resource materials were originally published in the Hebrew, German, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Polish, Swedish and Russian languages. Brook's insights are unique in that he draws upon the latest archival, linguistic and archeological discoveries.

Brook demonstrates clearly that "The Khazars were politically and militarily powerful, representing a 'third force' in Europe and Asia on par with the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate." These "masters of the steppes and forests of Russia" impacted on world history by

(1) halting Arab conquests north of the Caucasus (a role similar to that of the Franks in western Europe),

(2) founding the great city of Kiev,

(3) establishing a major center for world trade (developing and maintaining commercial links among and between China, the Islamic empire, Byzantium, western Europe, and the Baltic countries),

(4) stimulating the migration of the Bulgars and Magyars out of the Volga region and into their present lands in Bulgaria, Tatarstan, Bashkiria, Chuvashia, and Hungary,

(5) influencing the formation of the early culture and governmental system of the Magyars,

(6) spreading into eastern Europe glassmaking and other such 'advanced' technologies of civilization (which they learned from Middle Eastern Jews), and

(7) contributing strongly to the ethnogenesis of eastern European Jews and other peoples in that region.

Brook's reconstruction of Khazaria's pluralistic culture debunks many false and prejudicial notions about them. For example, they were not, as is often assumed, merely "middle-men traders" who took advantage of their central position on the world's major trade routes to benefit primarily from handling fees and transit taxes. They had, in fact, an economic foundation of indigenous agriculture and manufacturing industries. They also hosted the center of the international trading empire of the Rhadanites, who dominated the Silk Road from China to Byzantium and the Baltic during most of this period.

As the title of the book indicates, the Jewish influence on this unique empire is explored in full. The net result is a balanced understanding that exposes earlier historical mis-judgements for what they are, i.e., anti-Jewish sentiments. While it is understandable why Stalinist ideologues and Russian nationalists were obsessed with obliterating all historical memory of Khazarian-Jewish contributions to the formation of the succeeding Russian civilization, one can find evidence of thoughtless prejudice in the contemporary literature of wargamers.

For example, in WRG's Army Lists Book Two: 55 BC - 1000 AD, (published in January 1983), p. 29, the commentary on the Khazar 'Order of Battle' includes the following statement: "The Khazars were unusually devious even for nomads, and adopted Judaism as a political ploy to counterbalance their Christian and Moslem neighbors." Brook makes it clear that such comments are uninformed historical glosses that do not take into account the multifaceted complexities of the Khazarian geopolitical and multicultural environment.

Is there anything here of specific interest to tabletop warriors? Most definitely! Brook's elaboration of Khazar government (including military structure) and international relations shows that, for those who prefer to battle "in period," there is a host of nations and tribal hordes for a miniature Khazarian army to challenge.

In fact, the Khazars were periodically allies and enemies of everyone in the eastern Europe/western Asia region, including early Sassanians, Byzantines, Arabs, residual Huns, Alans, Magyars, Rus, Pechenegs, Armenians, Bulgars, Slavs, late Avars, and Khwarismians. Their major wars and battles are enumerated, although little information on specific battlefield tactics is available.

One weakness of this book, from a wargamers perspective, is that there is only one map of the Khazar khaganate. It shows Khazaria a bit after its prime, i.e., in the early stages of its decline, in the 9th/10th centuries. For those like me who are obsessed with geopolitical history, it will be necessary to consult Colin McEvedy's The Penguin Atlas of Medieval History (pp. 33, 35, 37, 39, 45, 49, 51, 53 & 55) to obtain some perspective on the expansion and eventual contraction of Khazarian dominated territory over time. (Note, however, that McEvedy's work predates Brook by many years and therefore contains some inaccuracies with regards to Khazarian territory and trade routes.)

Other items of interest in this 350-paged work include a map of Khazarian-ruled Crimea, several tables illustrating royal genealogies, king lists, a Turkic language family chart, a glossary of Khazarian words, and an extensive bibliography of articles, books and essays.

The Jews of Khazaria can be ordered on the Internet, i.e., "www.aronson.com" (price, $27.95 plus $4.00 shipping), and "www.Amazon.com" (price, $35.00 plus shipping). If you wish to order from your local bookstore, note that the ISBN is 0765760320.

Needless to say, I've already built a Khazar army (in 15 mm), and would love to "have a go" with anyone who has an in-period army - using Terry's new Medieval Warfare rules, of course.

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