One of the problems encountered in studying a foreign region is the spelling of
names. This is compounded where languages are written in the unfamiliar Arabic
script and different systems of transliteration have been employed to turn names
into European languages. Although T.E. Lawrence gloried in the variety of
forms which could be produced, most readers are likely to be confused unless
some standardization is achieved. Three principles have directed the choice for
this book. As far as possible, place names have been spelt in the form used by The
Times Atlas of the World since this is generally accessible, but where an English
version is already in common use that spelling has been preferred. For example,
Taurus Mountains is preferred to Toros Dağlari and Euphrates to al-Fؙrat or
Firat. Where reference is made to places not marked on the maps of The Times
Atlas, the versions employed in the English language literature have generally
been accepted, though for places in Turkey the modern Romanized spelling is
used ( J. C. Dewdney, Turkey, Chatto and Windus, London, 1971, pp 8 - 10 ). For
other names, the practice adoptedğ by the Encyclopaedia of Islam has been
followed, even though this has sometimes created inconsistencies in the text. To
avoid the inconvenient term 'Persian/Arabian Gulf', 'the Gulf' has been adopted
throughout.

The metric system has been adopted for most quantities, in line with current
British practice. For financial matters, however, a variety of currencies are used.
Standardization over a long period of time is virtually impossible in a situation of
inflation and rapidly changing exchange rates.

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