A concise history of the Middle East

Introduction

The Middle East before Muhammad

The First Muslim revolution

The early Arab conquests

The high caliphate

Shiites and Turks, crusaders and Mongols

Islamic civilization

Firearms, slaves, and empires

European interests and imperialism

Westernizing reform in the nineteenth century

The rise of nationalism

The roots of Arab bitterness

Modernizing rulers in the independent states

Egypt and the fertile crescent

The contest for Palestine

Israel's rebirth and the rise of Arab nationalism

War and the quest for peace

The reassertion of Islamic power

The Gulf War and the peace process

The War on Terrorism

In the season of Arab discontent

Changing middle eastern environments.

List of illustrations

Preface

1. Introduction

Part I. The rise of Islam to the zenith of Abbasid power: 2. The Middle East before Muhammad; 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. The rise of the Shi'a and the influx of the Turks; 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. The roots of Arab bitterness; 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 rebirth and the rise of Arab nationalism; 18. War and the quest for peace

Part VI: The Islamist resurgence: 19. The reassertion of Islamist power; 20. The 1991 Gulf War and the peace process; 21. The post-9/11 decade in the Middle East

Part VII. The Arab Spring and its aftermath: 22. In the season of Arab discontent; 23. The regional cold war in the twenty-first century

Appendix I

Appendix II

Glossary

Bibliographic essay

Bibliographic web essay.