A History of the Middle East Since the Rise of Islam
From the Prophet Muhammad to the 21st Century
Published on 22. June 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
496 pages
978-0-19-758714-0 (ISBN)
Description
As David Lesch writes in his Preface, "Historians are a kind of secular priesthood, seemingly endowed with the power and means to select what is and what is not important for the rest of us." In A History of the Middle East Since the Rise of Islam, Lesch focuses on the longue duree. Choosing the rise of Islam as the general beginning point of his one-volume history of the Middle East, Lesch argues that there is an indelible link between the rise of Islam and the overall environment that exists today in the region. The continuum of this chain of events is the primary focus of his book. Combining a comprehensive approach and an appealing, informal tone, Lesch offers the reader enough specifics to digest the flavor of particular periods, dynasties, movements, cultural markers, and ideological developments, yet general enough so that the totality of this history can be compared and contrasted. The result is a brilliant tour de force.
Reviews / Votes
A History of the Middle East is a clear, well-balanced book introducing the Middle East by a well-experienced scholar.-Erik Goldstein, Boston University A History of the Middle East is a fine, ambitious effort at covering 1,400+ years of Middle East political, religious, and cultural history in one engaging, accessible volume.
-Andrew Wender, University of Victoria
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
80
Dimensions
Height: 156 mm
Width: 237 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
816 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-758714-0 (9780197587140)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
David W. Lesch is the Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History at Trinity University.
Content
List of Maps Spotlight Boxes Preface Note on the Text About the Author 1. INTRODUCTION Notes 2. THE RISE OF ISLAM The International Setting
Pre-Islamic Arabia
Life of the Prophet Muhammad
Primary Sources
Thabit: The Death of the Knight Rabia, Called Boy Longlocks
Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening)
Surah LXXV, The Resurrection
Key Terms
Notes 3. RASHIDUN Succession and Ridda War
Islamic Conquests
Fitna
Primary Sources
The Battle of Ajnadin (or Ajnadain)
Tabarii: '"The Death of 'Uthman,"' ,"' from Tthe History of Prophets and Kings
Key Terms
Notes 4. ARAB KINGDOM Sufyanids
Marwanids I
Marwanids II
Primary Sources
The Death of al-Husayn ibn Ali
Hasan al-Basri: Letter to Umar II
Key Terms
Notes 5. ISLAMIC EMPIRE Revolution and Consolidation
Of Golden Primes and Civil War
Breakdown
Primary Sources
Harun al-Rashid and the Succession Arrangement
Key Terms
Notes 6. FRAGMENTATION Buyids
Fatimids
Islamic Spain
Primary Sources
The Cities of Egypt: Alexandria and al-Fustat
Abd al-Rahman III of al-Andalus
Key Terms
Notes 7. FROM EAST AND WEST The Seljuks
The Mongols
The Crusades
Primary Sources
Selections from The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun'
Ibn al-Athir: from The Great History
Robert the Monk's Account of Pope Urban II's Call to Crusade
Ibn al-Athir, X, 185--190, 193--195
"Imad al-Din al-Asfahani relays Salah al-Din."
Key Terms Notes 8. IN THE WAKE OF THE MONGOLS The Mamluks
The Ottomans
The Safavids
Primary Sources
Kritovoulos: from Tthe History of Mehmed Position and Orders Given the Generals
Letters from Selim and Ismail
Key Terms
Notes 9. RISE, RESISTANCE, RETREAT, AND REFORM The Age of Sulayman the Magnificent
European Pressure
Ottoman Reform Movement
Primary Sources
Poem written by Sulayman the Magnificent to his wife, Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana)
The Guelhane Proclamation, (1839)
Jamal al-Din al-Afghani,", "Commentary on the Commentator"
Key Terms
Notes 10. INFLECTION POINT The Hamidian Era and the Young Turks
World War I in the Middle East
Postwar Agreements and Mandate System
Primary Sources
Negib Azoury: Program of the League of the Arab Fatherland
Excerpts from the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence, (July 14, 1915--January. 25, 1916)
The Sykes-Picot Agreement, 1916
The Balfour Declaration, 1917
British Declaration to Seven Arab Spokesmen
Key Terms
Notes 11. THE SHAPING OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST Cold Wars
Arab--Israeli Conflict
1979 and Iits Aftermath
Primary Sources
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181
Speech by President Nasser on Nationalization of the Suez Canal
Remarks by Golda Meir to President Sadat in the Knesset, November 21, 1977
Excerpts from speech by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to the Israeli Knesset, November 20, 1977.
Camp David Accords: The Framework for Peace in the Middle East
Annual State of the Union Message (1980) (the Carter Doctrine), 1980
"Palestinians, America and the U.N." Op-ed in the New York Times, January. 20, 2011, bBy Hanan Ashrawi
Key Terms
Notes 12. MIDDLE EAST AGONISTES 9/11
The 2003 Invasion of Iraq
The Arab Spring
Primary Sources
Excerpt from President George W. Bush's State of the Union Speech, January 2002 (excerpt)
Statement by President Trump on Jerusalem, December 2017
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Reacts to Trump's Announcement
Excerpts from Speech by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Syrian Parliament Addressing the Mounting Protests, March 30, 2011
Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Nobel Lecture, December. 10, 2003.
Key Terms
Notes For Further Reading
Glossary
Photo Credits
Index
Pre-Islamic Arabia
Life of the Prophet Muhammad
Primary Sources
Thabit: The Death of the Knight Rabia, Called Boy Longlocks
Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening)
Surah LXXV, The Resurrection
Key Terms
Notes 3. RASHIDUN Succession and Ridda War
Islamic Conquests
Fitna
Primary Sources
The Battle of Ajnadin (or Ajnadain)
Tabarii: '"The Death of 'Uthman,"' ,"' from Tthe History of Prophets and Kings
Key Terms
Notes 4. ARAB KINGDOM Sufyanids
Marwanids I
Marwanids II
Primary Sources
The Death of al-Husayn ibn Ali
Hasan al-Basri: Letter to Umar II
Key Terms
Notes 5. ISLAMIC EMPIRE Revolution and Consolidation
Of Golden Primes and Civil War
Breakdown
Primary Sources
Harun al-Rashid and the Succession Arrangement
Key Terms
Notes 6. FRAGMENTATION Buyids
Fatimids
Islamic Spain
Primary Sources
The Cities of Egypt: Alexandria and al-Fustat
Abd al-Rahman III of al-Andalus
Key Terms
Notes 7. FROM EAST AND WEST The Seljuks
The Mongols
The Crusades
Primary Sources
Selections from The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun'
Ibn al-Athir: from The Great History
Robert the Monk's Account of Pope Urban II's Call to Crusade
Ibn al-Athir, X, 185--190, 193--195
"Imad al-Din al-Asfahani relays Salah al-Din."
Key Terms Notes 8. IN THE WAKE OF THE MONGOLS The Mamluks
The Ottomans
The Safavids
Primary Sources
Kritovoulos: from Tthe History of Mehmed Position and Orders Given the Generals
Letters from Selim and Ismail
Key Terms
Notes 9. RISE, RESISTANCE, RETREAT, AND REFORM The Age of Sulayman the Magnificent
European Pressure
Ottoman Reform Movement
Primary Sources
Poem written by Sulayman the Magnificent to his wife, Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana)
The Guelhane Proclamation, (1839)
Jamal al-Din al-Afghani,", "Commentary on the Commentator"
Key Terms
Notes 10. INFLECTION POINT The Hamidian Era and the Young Turks
World War I in the Middle East
Postwar Agreements and Mandate System
Primary Sources
Negib Azoury: Program of the League of the Arab Fatherland
Excerpts from the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence, (July 14, 1915--January. 25, 1916)
The Sykes-Picot Agreement, 1916
The Balfour Declaration, 1917
British Declaration to Seven Arab Spokesmen
Key Terms
Notes 11. THE SHAPING OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST Cold Wars
Arab--Israeli Conflict
1979 and Iits Aftermath
Primary Sources
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181
Speech by President Nasser on Nationalization of the Suez Canal
Remarks by Golda Meir to President Sadat in the Knesset, November 21, 1977
Excerpts from speech by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to the Israeli Knesset, November 20, 1977.
Camp David Accords: The Framework for Peace in the Middle East
Annual State of the Union Message (1980) (the Carter Doctrine), 1980
"Palestinians, America and the U.N." Op-ed in the New York Times, January. 20, 2011, bBy Hanan Ashrawi
Key Terms
Notes 12. MIDDLE EAST AGONISTES 9/11
The 2003 Invasion of Iraq
The Arab Spring
Primary Sources
Excerpt from President George W. Bush's State of the Union Speech, January 2002 (excerpt)
Statement by President Trump on Jerusalem, December 2017
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Reacts to Trump's Announcement
Excerpts from Speech by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Syrian Parliament Addressing the Mounting Protests, March 30, 2011
Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Nobel Lecture, December. 10, 2003.
Key Terms
Notes For Further Reading
Glossary
Photo Credits
Index