The control of energy and its resources is linked deeply to the desire for power, and the quest for oil and gas tells a particularly dramatic tale that reflects mankind’s often stormy progress through history. Hydrocarbons and their discovery as a utility found their cradle in the Caucasus and Caspian region. After a century of booming production became curtailed by decades of Cold War isolation and Soviet mismanagement the story continues as the region becomes a key player in global energy production. Originally published in 1998, this book charts the history of the fossil fuels industry in this pivotal region from ancient civilizations through to the new millennium. This was the first overview to be written of the world’s original oil and gas industry. It also details how oil – and to a lesser extent – gas has developed from a mere commodity into a potent strategic-political tool.