ABSTRACT

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. 

chapter 1|10 pages

Introduction

part I|58 pages

The Rise of Islam to the Zenith of Abbasid Power

chapter 2|13 pages

The Middle East before Muhammad

chapter 3|18 pages

Muhammad and the Rise of Islam

chapter 4|14 pages

The Early Arab Conquests

chapter 5|13 pages

The High Caliphate

part II|56 pages

The Turkic Empires From the Seljuks to Ottomans

chapter 7|8 pages

The Crusader and Mongol Invasions

chapter 8|17 pages

Islamic Civilization

chapter 9|20 pages

Firearms, Slaves, and Empires

part III|40 pages

European Incursions and the Nationalist Reaction

chapter 10|12 pages

European Interests and Imperialism

chapter 12|15 pages

The Rise of Nationalism

part IV|58 pages

World War I and Its Aftermath

chapter 13|17 pages

The Roots of Arab Bitterness

chapter 14|20 pages

Modernizing Rulers in the Independent States

part V|76 pages

The Arab–Israeli Conflict

chapter 16|18 pages

The Contest for Palestine

chapter 18|31 pages

War and the Quest for Peace

part VI|72 pages

The Islamist Resurgence

chapter 19|28 pages

The Reassertion of Islamist Power

chapter 20|17 pages

The 1991 Gulf War and the Peace Process

chapter 21|27 pages

The Post-9/11 Decade in the Middle East

part VII|39 pages

The Arab Spring and Its Aftermath

chapter 22|27 pages

In the Season of Arab Discontent