Începuturile serviciilor de informații - Orientul Apropiat antic, Persia, Grecia, Roma, Bizanț, Imperiile musulmane arabe, Imperiul Mongol, China, Cnezatul Moscovei

A fundamnetal work for intelligence research, the volume is the result of a concept by General William J. Donovan, former director of the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS). during World War II, considered by some historians to be the true founder of the CIA. He wanted, through this work, to present the immense importance of the intelligence services for the defense of a nation. Once the idea sprouted, General Donovan began to put it into practice, identifying scientists who would be willing to carry out this project. Among those contacted was Francis Dvornik, professor of philosophy at Harvard University, who, among other studies, was concerned with political philosophy in the ancient states of the Middle East, Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire