As events continue to unfold, we present a reading list of key books which through investigative journalism, graphic storytelling, and critical analysis shed light on the unfolding crisis in the middle east. The book traces middle east history from before the advent of islam during the medieval era, all the way to turbulent modern times. Fourth edition the definitive history of the middle east, thoroughly revised and updated the best overall survey of the politics, regional rivalries and economics of the contemporary arab world. The middle east at this period was a region of religious change. United states foreign policy in the middle east has its roots as early as the barbary wars in the first years of the u. Childrens middle grade historical books books penguin. Pack these insightful new books on the middle east, islam and politics as you head off to vacation. With a wealth of history, the middle east has been the star of many books. What are some of the best books on middle eastern history. However good the translation you read or even if you can read it in arabic, the text of the koran still needs a lot of glossing and. Can you recommend a good book about middle eastern history. This book and its cited sources can keep you busy for the next 5 years. Robert fisk, pity the nation middle east master robert fisk tackles the 19751990 lebanese civil war in an award winning book, now the definitive source on the conflict thanks to meticulous.
A history of the middle east by peter mansfield this book offers a good overview by a very well respected historian. Located in washington, dc and shipping everywhere, we have a huge selection of nonfiction, literature, dvds, pottery, olive oil, and more from palestine. In his most recent book veteran middle east expert charles glass combines reportage, analysis and history to provide an accessible overview of the origins and permutations defining the conflict. Online shopping for middle east history books in the books store. This wiki has been updated 15 times since it was first published in february of 2018. In a sixpart series, the middle east and the west, a troubled history, npr s mike shuster examines the nearly 1,000year history of western involvement in the middle east. They cover east asia, western europe, eastern europe, north america, and the middle east. If you want something a little more nuanced is a history of the arab peoples by albert hourani or a history of modern iran by ervand abrahamanian. New mystery religions such as mithraism were spreading in the region.
The 12 best books on the french revolution of 2020. Discover librarianselected research resources on middle east history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Top ten books for beginners on the middle east the conflict. Feb 17, 2004 robert irwins top 10 books on islam and islamic culture. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. What are some good books on the history of ancient israel. Studying history is essential for good citizenship and moral understanding. Yergins conversational style is a good fit whether hes explaining opecs imperium on western economies or the first hints of peak oil theory. Buy a history of the middle east 2nd edition by mansfield, peter isbn. Jul 31, 2017 this list of 100 mustread books about ancient history reflects these changes. What are some good books to read and understand the. But as such, it is also forcibly a history of the middle east s most powerful economic and political engine of the 20th century.
Discover the best middle eastern history in best sellers. By the time of the arrival of islam in the early seventeenth century ce, what we now call the middle east was divided between the persian and byzantine empires. As the winter sets in and churns out dreary dust clouds and rainy days, curl up with our readers digest of stodgy to light reads, history books, novels and biographies, out of the middle east. This excellent textbook, extensively used for over 2 decades, creates a history of ancient israel and judah through a meticulous research of geographical, archaeological, and biblical auth. This time, with the advice and help of karl yambert, our editor, we have pruned our account wherever we could, even as new events and trends had to be added. I have also included some overtly proisrael works to understand that veiw. Historical biography middle east, middle eastern history. The history books on this list are a comprehensive study of modern history beginning with the 19th century globalization. From the most brutal siege of world war i to the renewed significance of an ideology many of us had dismissed as defunct, 2019 was a good year for traditional history books on big themes. What are some good books for to learn about the medieval middle east.
Yergins conversational style is a good fit whether hes explaining opecs imperium on. Countless western researchers and journalists have taken this region under their wings, dedicating their lives to report on events and wars taking place. Middle eastern philosophy includes the various philosophies of the middle east regions, including the fertile crescent, iran, and anatolia. Narrative nonfiction books are informational books written in an engaging storylike format. United states foreign policy in the middle east wikipedia. The definitive history of the middle east, thoroughly revised and updated the best overall survey of the politics. The best history books five books expert recommendations.
After reading this i realize i most certainly did not. Here are just a few book recommendations to give you a headstart on middle eastern history. The 10 best narrative nonfiction books for middle graders. Best middle eastern american childrens books posted on august 3, 2011 april 10, 2019 by pragmatic mom best multicultural books for kids on the middle east. Paul lay, editor of history today, talks us through his picks of the best history books of the year. This history started from the earliest human settlements, continuing through several major pre and postislamic empires through to the nationstates of the middle east. Historical biography middle east, middle eastern history, books. This book is a stepping stone into a deeper series of studies and is useful for helping the reader to see what they are really interested in. If you want something a little more nuanced is a history of the arab peoples by albert hourani or a history. This book does a good job giving a history of the middle east. Patrick tyler has spent 30 years as a journalist for the new york times and washington post, dividing his time between washington, and tours in the middle east, china, russia and europe.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Browse our latest titles in the childrens middle grade historical books category to discover your next read from. Drawing on a great deal of new material and interviews with many key. The perfect books to introduce newcomers to a turbulent and compelling region. This is a good book for discussion that other children around the world dont have the ability to go to school because they have to earn money for their family and how important an education is. Discover the best middle eastern politics in best sellers. The middle east is a balanced, informative, and politically neutral guide that helps readers understand the complex and controversial issues that influence the volatile middle east. Engagingly written, drawing from the authors own research and other studies, and stocked with maps and photographs, original documents and an abundance of supplementary materials, the modern middle east. But with the spread of this new religion from arabia, a powerful empire emerged, and with it a flourishing civilization and a glorious golden age. By 200 ce it was to be found throughout both the roman and parthian empires, and even on a. American policy during the cold war tried to prevent soviet union influence by supporting anticommunist regimes and backing israel against sovietsponsored arab countries.
The popular theme of this book deals with the underlying causes of mysteries and unresolved questions of. The following is her top 15 book choices written by authors from the middle east region. Im always in awe and admittedly a bit jealous too of how she has the time to consume all the great books she posts about. What are some good books to read and understand the history. This list of 100 mustread books about ancient history reflects these changes. List of books and articles about middle east history. If you want really general, goldschidmt is very good, as is a history of the modern middle east by william l cleveland and martin bunton. Best books for understanding middle eastern culture for readers looking for helpful insights into the muslim world and the reflections of fellow westerners who. The book analyzes and explains the basic pre history of the universe and how it came into being, the basic dynamics which created life, the basic.
A history of the arab peoples by albert hourani, a peace to end all peace. Middle east books and more books, pottery, olive oil, and more. I selected each not on the basis of quality, but my rough assessment of a book. The path of splitness is a major nonfiction work that will rock the scientific world it is 2,766 pages. But as such, it is also forcibly a history of the middle easts most powerful economic and political engine of the 20th century. Middle east expertise and the rise of the national security state. Listed are some of the most important history books ever written, as recommended by some of the most eminent historians working today. There is 5,000 years of history of the middle east, much of it trouble. These are the 6 books about the middle east everybody. Syrians leave a rebelheld area of aleppo to go to the governmentheld side. Georgia bragg introduces readers to the ghastly deaths of some of history s biggest celebrities. Over recent years, middle eastern literature has been making great strides in the international book market, with many authors and works receiving widespread attention and praise. Traditions include ancient egyptian philosophy, babylonian philosophy, jewish philosophy, iranianpersian philosophy, and islamic philosophy. A history will provide bothnovices and specialists with fresh insights into the events that have shaped history and the debates about them.
Dec 04, 2016 10 best books for american history buffs december 4, 2016 december 30, 2016 mike rogers 3 comments america, books, top tens american history remains one of the most popular genres of history, which is why we see dozens of books published each year on the subject. A political history since the first world war by mehran kamrava. The authors of a concise history of the middle east have done a fantastic job in putting together this easy to read and follow volume. The fall of the ottoman empire and the creation of the modern middle east by david fromki. A wonderful book list for children about the arab world including picture books, advanced picture books, chapter books, a graphic novel and young. For the uninitiated, middle east history is longspanning and complicated. Above all, christianity was born in judaea and galillee, and began spreading around the middle east from after 30 ce. A history of western disorder in arab lands by jeremy salt this is a little more in depth, and offers insights as to why the middle east is currently in such turmoil. A brief history of the last 2, 000 years reprint by lewis, bernard isbn. From the sumerians to the akkadians to the assyrians to the babylonians to persians to the greeks to the romans and parthians to the byzantines and sassanians to the arabs to. Jul 18, 20 ive included both palestinian and israeli works. I asked sumaiyya to share with us her top recommended books from the middle east. Which books are best to learn about ancient middle eastern.
The book lives up to its title and reputation as just about the best onevolume introduction to the history of islam. Im trying to look at different aspects of the conflict, but need to get it from one source. A thousand splendid suns by khaled hosseini, the kite runner by khaled hosseini, mornings in jenin by susan abulhaw. So, reading or studying these middle eastern history books will help. This history started from the earliest human settlements, continuing through several major pre and postislamic empires through to the nationstates of the middle east today. Best books for understanding middle eastern culture 28 books. Whether you have already traveled to beirut or are still waiting to see where your own story takes you, here are five books that bring the city to life five different perspectives that will make you fall in love with beirut again and again. Discover the best middle east history in best sellers. Can you please recommend a good book, fiction or nonfiction, to explain how the middle east got so complicated and violent. A history of western disorder in arab lands by jeremy salt this is a little more in depth, and offers insights as to why the middle east.
The best books for middle school according to my students. Neither overly scholarly nor espousing a particular point of view, this book is an evenhanded treatment that provides an excellent grounding in the region. Not a book focused on europe, but on how europeans destroyed the old middle east ern order and failed to replace it with stability. On facebook, i ran a series listing the most influential modern books on the middle east in the english language. Home browse history middle eastern history middle east history.
Here are some of the best narrative nonfiction books for middle graders including cover art and a brief summary of 10 recommended informational books. It is effectively organized and does a fairly balance view of the various religions that have arisen in the area. For general history books, check out a previous post here. A history of ancient israel and judah has to be my choice. The 94 best middle east history books recommended by sam sanders, joshua landis, marina amaral, michael dickson and bodour al qasimi. Try this reading list if you want to understand the middle east the greatest problem of. So, im glad i read this well structured history lesson in book form, because it helped straighten out some of the intricate political web that has turned that area of the world into the contentious powder keg its become. Middle east history 5 books you must read why to read. This is a quality popular history on another often overlooked topic. Good books for learning about the social implications of early christianity. The internet is a goto source for learning about history, but dont forget about the numerous libraries all across the globe that are home to some of the worlds best history books. The best books for middle school according to my students 2016 may 6, 2016 may 1, 2017 pernille ripp warning. The best and most comprehensive selection of books on the middle east, covering politics, history, conflict, religion and culture.
A good book for understanding middle east conflict. The blurbs for books about ancient history are taken, whole or in part, from. Home to the cradle of civilization, the middle east interchangeable with the near east has seen many of the worlds oldest cultures and civilizations. Nov 17, 2015 in the wake of friday nights violent attacks in paris, the wall street journal asked several experts for book recommendations on the evolution of terrorism in the middle east. Albert hourani, a history of the arab peoples, middle east, book source. Home to the cradle of civilization, the middle eastinterchangeable with the near easthas seen many of the worlds oldest cultures and civilizations. Its a history of oil on all continents, not just the middle east. Robert irwins top 10 books on islam and islamic culture.
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