A Short History of Antioch. By E. S. Bouchier. (Oxford
: Blackwell. 12s. Gd. net.)—Mr. Bouchier, the author of two useful volumes on Roman Syria and ancient Sardinia, in which the results of modern research are skilfully summarized, has now written an interesting book of the same kind on Antioch. The great city of the Near East, which was founded by Seleucus Nicator in 300 Tee. and destroyed by Bibars, Sultan of Egypt, in 1268, played a considerable part in the many wars and revolutions of those sixteen centuries ; but it is of special interest to us because it was the first seat of Christiarlity in the Greek world. Mr. Bouchier's spirited sketch of its history, enlivened with many graphic touches from the chroniclers and from the early Fathers like Chrysostom, helps one to realize the importance of Antioch as a mission-centre. In its prime Antioch must have been a most attractive and stately city, and had perhaps half a million inhabitants. The Arabs took it in 636 and lost it again in 969, when the Byzantine Empire revived. The Seljuk Turks captured it in 1081, and were expelled by the Crusaders under Bohemond. For a hundred and seventy years the Frankish principality founded by Bohemond held its own, long after the fall of Jerusalem, and did much to restore Northern Syria to civilization. But the Franks, Greeks, and Syrians were never united, and Antioch, being left without support from Europe, fell into the hands of the Egyptian barbarians. It never recovered from the blow, and Aleppo took its place. The poor little modern town of Antakia, on a corner of the site of old Antioch, illustrates the contrast between the destructive temper of Islam and the constructive European genius which was expressed in the great city of the past.
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