The Dead Sea, in the Jordan Rift Valley, and the Tigris-Euphrates river system are two of the great natural features of the Middle East. But in the nineteenth century they had an added political significance: the one as a possible gateway for a Russian invasion of Egypt, the other as a potentially faster route to India. At least, that is the traditional explanation for the presence in the region of the major international powers of the day. This important new book questions that view.<BR><BR>Drawing upon extensive original research, the author shows how geopolitical factors were but one aspect of a larger, more complex picture. 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-Haim Goren shows how other forces than the games of the big powers and the interests of empire were involved. He reveals the important role played by private individuals and organisations and their personal motivations and interests. He establishes a wealth of new connections between the key players and reveals for the first time an important Irish nexus. The result is a work that adds an important new dimension to our existing understanding of this period.