Arthur Goldschmidt Jr.

Ibrahim Al-Marashi

A Concise History of the Middle East provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of this region.

Spanning from the pre-Islamic era to the present, it explores the evolution of Middle Eastern institutions and culture, the influence of European colonialism and Western imperialism, regional modernization efforts, the struggle of various peoples for political independence, the Arab–Israel conflict, the reassertion of Islamist values and power, the issues surrounding the Palestinian Question, and the Middle East following 9/11, the 2011 Arab uprisings, and the regional crisis that erupted after October 7, 2023.

The thirteenth edition has been fully revised to reflect the most recent events in, and concerns of, the region, including its future in the face of climate change and challenges in Iraq and developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In addition, the important role of Middle Eastern women in the history of the region is woven into the narrative. New parts and timelines will help listeners grasp and contextualize the long and complicated history of the region.

With updated biographical sketches and new concluding chapters, this book remains the quintessential text for students of Middle East history.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Part I. The Rise of Islam to the Zenith of Abbasid Power 2. The Pre-Islamic 3. Muhammad and the Rise of Islam 4. The Early Arab Conquests 5. The High Caliphate

Part II. The Turkic Empires from the Seljuks to Ottomans 6. Shi’a and Turkic Empires 7. The Crusader and Mongol Invasions 8. Islamic Civilization 9. Firearms, Slaves, and Empires

Part III. European Incursions and the Nationalist Reaction 10. European Interests and Imperialism 11. Westernizing Reform in the Nineteenth Century 12. The Rise of Nationalism

Part IV. World War I and its Aftermath 13. Arab Nationalism and the First World War 14. Modernizing Rulers in the Independent States 15. Egypt and the Fertile Crescent Under European Control 

Part V. The Arab-Israeli Conflict 16. The Contest for Palestine 17. Israel’s Formation and the Arab Response 18. Wars and the Quest for Peace

Part VI. The Islamist Resurgence 19. The Iranian Revolution and Rise of Islamist Movement 20. The 1991 Gulf War and the Peace Process 21. Jihadism and America’s “War on Terror”

Part VII. The Arab Uprisings and Middle East Cold War 22. The Arab Uprisings of 2011 23. The Regional Cold War in the Twenty-First Century 24. The Middle East and the Environment into the Twenty-First Century 25. Conclusion