A Concise History of the Middle East provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of this turbulent region. Spanning from pre-Islam to the present day, it explores the evolution of Islamic institutions and culture, the influence of the West, modernization efforts in the Middle East, the struggle of various peoples for political independence, the Arab-Israel conflict, the reassertion of Islamic values and power, the issues surrounding the Palestinian Question, and the Middle East post-9/11 and post-Arab uprisings.
The twelfth edition has been fully revised to reflect the most recent events in, and concerns of, the region, including the presence of ISIS and other non-state actors, the civil wars in Syria and Yemen, and the refugee crisis. New parts and part timelines will help students grasp and contextualize the long and complicated history of the region.
With updated biographical sketches and glossary, and a new concluding chapter, this book remains the quintessential text for students of Middle East history.
1. Introduction 2. The Middle East Before Muhammad 3. Muhammad and the Rise of Islam 4. The Early Arab Conquests 5. The High Caliphate 6. The Rise of the Shi'a and the Influx of the Turks 7. The Crusader and Mongol Invasions 8. Islamic Civilization 9. Firearms, Slaves, and Empires 10. European Interests and Imperialism 11. Westernizing Reform in the Nineteenth Century 12. The Rise of Nationalism 13. The Roots of Arab Bitterness 14. Modernizing Rulers in the Independent States 15. Egypt and the Fertile Crescent Under European Control 16. The Contest for Palestine 17. Israel's Rebirth and the Rise of Arab Nationalism 18. War and the Quest for Peace 19. Reassertion of Islamist Power 20. The 1991 Gulf War and the Peace Process 21. The Post-9/11 Decade in the Middle East 22. In the Season of Arab Discontent 23. The Regional Cold War in the Twenty-First Century Appendix I Appendix II
