A Concise History of the Middle East: Ninth Edition - Softcover

Goldschmidt Jr., Arthur; Davidson, Lawrence

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0813343887 ISBN 13: 9780813343884

Publisher: Westview Press, 2009

Synopsis

The ninth edition of this widely acclaimed text by Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. and Lawrence Davidson has been extensively revised to reflect the latest scholarship and the most recent events in the Middle East. As an introduction to the history of this turbulent region from the beginnings of Islam to the present day, the book is distinguished by its clear style, broad scope, and balanced treatment. It focuses on the evolution of Islamic institutions and culture, the influence of the West, the modernization efforts of Middle Eastern governments, the struggle of various peoples for political independence, the course of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the reassertion of Islamic values and power, the issues surrounding the Palestinian Question, and the roles of Iraq and Iran in the post-9/11 Middle East. Nine maps newly commissioned for the ninth edition highlight key aspects of Middle East history. Two popular study aids, the chronology and the glossary, have been extensively revised, and the superlative bibliographic essay, an essential guide to further reading, has been thoroughly rewritten to reflect current scholarship.

About this title

About the Author:

Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. is professor emeritus of Middle East history at Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of Modern Egypt: Foundation of a Nation-State and the recipient of the Amoco Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching and the 2000 Middle East Studies Association Mentoring Award.

Lawrence Davidson is professor of history at West Chester University. He is the author of several books, including America’s Palestine and Islamic Fundamentalism.

From AudioFile:

The writers pack a few thousand years, hundreds of names, and too many dates into 18 hours of listening. The information about culture, religion, and geography comes so fast that the density could negate its suitability for audio. Although the authors claim students will benefit most from their encyclopedic work, beginners might consider reading it from the page. Narrator Tom Weiner occasionally changes his normal voice into a nuanced speech that could be perceived as the use of italics or a dramatic aside. He doesn't stumble on the hundreds of Arabic words, but it's clear they don't come from a native speaker. He inflects by raising and lowering his volume, which works for an earphones-wearing listener in a quiet environment, but without earphones a lot may get lost. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Westview Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0813343887
• ISBN 13: 9780813343884
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 576