Middle Eastern history Books

Book SynopsisUnder Seljuk rule (c. 1081-1308) the formerly Christian Byzantine territories of Anatolia were transformed by the development of Muslim culture, society and politics, and it was then - well before the arrival of the Ottomans - that a Turkish population became firmly established in these lands. But these developments are little understood, and the Seljuk dynasty remains little studied. Yet the Seljuks of Anatolia were one of the most influential dynasties of the thirteenth-century Middle East, controlling some of the major trade routes of the period, playing a crucial role in linking East and West of the medieval world. This volume examines Seljuk culture and history by looking at developments both at court and in society at large and shed new light on Seljuk political culture and dynastic ideology, the engagement of politics with religion, and Christian-Muslim interaction. The Seljuks of Anatolia will be of great interest to researchers with interests in Byzantium as well as the material culture and society of the medieval Islamic world.Trade Review'This impressive scholarly volume opens up several new lines of research into the turbulent and little-known history of Seljuk Anatolia, marked by religious and linguistic pluralism and fragmented political control. The contributors achieve an impressive coherence in their different approaches to the ideological, religious and literary character of the period, drawing on a range of what are usually described as ancillary sources such as inscriptions, evidence of architectural patronage, correspondence, hagiographies and didactic literature to supplement the meagre narrative chronicles of the time. Altogether, this is a valuable collection of studies that will quickly take its place among the growing body of new work on the Seljuks as a whole and the Seljuks of Rum in particular.' -Professor Charles Melville, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Part One: Dynastic Identity and the Great Seljuk Inheritance Chapter 2: The House of Mengujek in Divrioi: Constructions of Dynastic Identity in the Late 12th Century Chapter 3: 'The King of the East and the West': the Seljuk Dynastic Concept and Titles in the Muslim and Christian Sources Chapter 4: A Nadim for the Sultan: Rawandi and the Anatolian Seljuks Part Two: The Royal Household Chapter 5: Harem Christianity: The Byzantine Identity of Seljuk Princes Chapter 6: Paper, Stone, Scissors: 'Ala' al-Din Kayqubad, 'Ismat al-Dunya wa 'l-Din, and the Writing of Seljuk History Part Three: Sufism at Court and in Society Chapter 7: In the Proximity of Sultans: Majd al-Din Ishaq, Ibn 'Arabi and the Seljuk Court Chapter 8: Sufis and the Seljuk Court in Mongol Anatolia: Politics and Patronage in the Works of Jalal al-Din Rumi and Sultan Walad Chapter 9: Futuwwa in 13th-century Rum and Armenia: Reform Movements and the Managing of Multiple Allegiances on the Seljuk Periphery Chapter 10: Conclusion: Research on the Seljuks of Anatolia: Some Comments on the State of the Art

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Book SynopsisOn a sweltering day in July, 1878 the men of the 42nd Royal Highlanders - the Black Watch - waded ashore at Larnaca Bay to begin the British occupation of Cyprus. Today, Britons on sunbeds colonise the same stretch of sand, the latest visitors to an island which has long held a special place in the English imagination - and a controversial role in British imperial ambitions. Drawing on largely unpublished material, Tabitha Morgan reflects on why successive administrations failed, so catastrophically, to engage with their Cypriot subjects, and how social segregation, confusion about Cypriot identity and the poor calibre of so many administrators all contributed to the bloody conflict that led, finally, to Cypriot independence in 1960. Sweet and Bitter Island explores for the first time the unique bond between Britain and Cyprus and the complex, sometimes tense, relationship between the two nations which endures to the present day. Extensively researched and lyrically written, this is the definitive portrait of British colonial life on the Mediterranean island.Trade ReviewA really wonderful book. Sweet and Bitter Island presents a fair and balanced account of Britain's tangled relationship with Cyprus - of special interest to those, like myself, who had a walk-on part near the end of the story as soldiers on active service.' - Martin Bell 'I found Tabitha Morgan's 'Sweet and Bitter Island' a delight. It's that happy combination: a book about a fascinating subject that is authoritative and yet intensely lively and interesting at the same time. I loved it, and felt much better informed as a result.' - John Simpson 'This is the Cyprus I remember as a boy in Nicosia - a history that seemed almost to be lost, except in memory. Tabitha Morgan has brought it back to life.' - Matthew ParrisTable of ContentsTable of Contents: Chapter One: Where Are the Forests? 1878- 1882 Chapter Two: The Whitest of White Elephants. 1882-1890 Chapter Three: A High Degree of Mental Culture. 1900 Chapter Four: Softening our rough peasantry. 1900-1914 Chapter Five: Clauson Will Do the Best He Can. 1914-1918 Chapter Six: Showing Benevolent Neutrality. 1916-1919 Chapter Seven: Gentle Somnambulance. 1918-28 Chapter Eight: No More Mixed Tea Parties. 1926-1938 Chapter Nine: Bread Stuffed with raisins. 1939-1941 Chapter Ten: Stripped for War. 1941- 1942 Chapter Eleven: The Levant Fishing Patrol and the Angelic Scheme 1942-1945 Chapter Twelve: The Great Liberator. 1945-55 Chapter Thirteen: A Child’s Game of Pretend 1955-1958 Chapter Fourteen: Wheel on the Idealist 1958-60

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Book SynopsisEver since they became conscious of their relative decline, the societies of the Middle East, and other Islamic countries more generally, have turned to Islam as an antidote to humiliation and decadence. This book examines the political environments, lives and works of those diverse nineteenth and twentieth century Muslim thinkers who believed that Islam was capable of providing practical solutions to the problems of the modern world. The volume provides a balanced account of their contribution to contemporary revolutionary Islam and to political developments in countries from Morocco to Indonesia. The writings and political activity of al-Afghani, Muhammad Abduh, Ayatollah Khomeini, Sayyid Abu'l-A'la Mawdudi, Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, Musa al-Sadr, Ali Shariati and Muhammad Baqr al-Sadr are considered, explaining the roots of movements as diverse as the Muslim Brotherhood, the Jama'at-i Islami, the radical Iranian clergy and the militant Shi'i of Lebanon. The book provides an ideal introduction to the complexity and variety of Islamic revival, revealing the motivations of the thinkers who have reshaped the political vocabulary of Islam. Ali Rahnema's major new introductory chapter puts these still hugely influential Muslim thinkers and the movements they inspired in the context of the extraordinarily changed circumstances confronting Islamic countries both internally and internationally since 9/11. He explores the dangers of any Western-Islamic standoff in a situation where both Muslim terrorists and certain chauvinist Christian elements are misusing the religions they ostensibly espouse. It becomes all the more important for Muslims and non-Muslims to understand the real thinking that has long gone in influential Islamic circles. This book intends to make a contribution in this regard.Trade Review'This is a judicious and well-conceived collection of studies by experts on prominent figures in the modern Islamic political revival... Anyone concerned with the politics of the modern Islamic world will find it useful to have this detailed Who's Who within reach.' Middle East Studies Association (MESA) Bulletin 'Well written articles on nine of the best known Islamic ideologues of the past century, the majority authored by a scholar who has published major work on the figure or his movement... The articles are appropriate to undergraduates and the book could well serve to structure an introductory course in modern Islamic thought'. Religious Studies Review 'The scholarly profiles in Pioneers of Islamic Revival give readers an opportunity to judge for themselves where the truth lies.' Third World Resources 'This is an excellent anthology about nine of the most influential thinkers of the past century who have contributed significantly to the shape of popular Islamic thought.' American Sufi Muslim Association (ASMA) 'The new edition of this book is welcome. Its essays dissect the contrasting approaches of eight of the most significant figures to develop political Islam.' Chris Harman, International SocialismTable of Contents Introduction to 2nd Edition: Contextualizing the Pioneers of Islamic Revival - Ali Rahnema 1. Introduction to 1st Edition - Ali Rahnema 2. Sayyid Jamal al-Din 'al-Afghani' - Nikki R.Keddie 3. Muhammad Abduh: Pioneer of Islamic Reform - Yvonne Haddad 4. Khomeini's Search for Perfection: Theory and Reality - Baqer Moin 5. Mawdudi and the Jama'at-i Islami: The Origins, Theory and Practice of Islamic Revivalism - Syyed Vali Reza Nasr 6. Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949) - David Commins 7. Sayyid Qutb: The Political Vision - Charles Tripp 8. Musa al-Sadr - Augustus Richard Norton 9. Ali Shariati: Teacher, Preacher, Rebel - Ali Rahnema 10. Muhammad Baqer as-Sadr - Chibli Mallat Index

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Book SynopsisDoes the bible justify Zionism? Since the foundation of the Israeli state in 1948, Torah and tank have become increasingly inseparable, resulting in the forced expulsion and subjugation of millions of indigenous Palestinians. Nur Masalha's groundbreaking new book traces Zionism's evolution from a secular, settler movement in the late 19th century, to the messianic faith it has become today. He shows how the biblical language of 'chosen people' and 'promised land' has been used by many Christian and Jewish Zionists as the 'title deeds' for Israel, justifying ethnic division and violence. With Edward Said, Masalha argues that a new politics of peace can only be achieved through a single, democratic state, which replaces religious zealotry with secular equality.Trade Review'Groundbreaking'. Abrar 'His argument should be read and taken deadly seriously...Nur makes a fascinating comparison between US backing for Israel today and British Christian backing for the Zionist project over a hundred years ago.' John Rose, International Socialism ‘As a collection of virtually independent, yet interdependent essays, this books must strike the reader as unique in its breadth of discourse in the now increasingly over-subscribed as well as predominately ‘area study’ focussed discipline of Middle Eastern politics and history ... very important and contextually relevant.' Sam Jacob, University of Exeter, Friends of Al-Aqsa 'Challenging.' The Pastoral ReviewTable of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Bible and the Founding Myths of Israel: History, New Historiography and the Truth (1882-1948) 2. From the Secular to the Sacred: Messianic Zionism and the Occupied Territories (1967-2006) 3. Reinventing Maimonides: From Universalist Arabo-Jewish Philosopher to Religious Fundamentalist (1967-2006) 4. Jewish Fundamentalism and the 'Sacred Geography' of Jerusalem in Comparative Perspective: Implications for Inter-faith Relations 5. The Politics of Armageddon: Christian Fundamentalism, the State of Israel and Jerusalem 6. Political Islam in Palestine and Israel 7. Reading the Bible with the Eyes of the Canaanites: Michael Prior, Liberation Theology and Moral Obligations 8. The Secular Democractic State: Edward W. Said and a New Political Vision for Palestine and Israel Epilogue

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Book SynopsisIn 1546, Pierre Belon - already a naturalist of some renown - travelled to Constantinople in the entourage of the French Ambassador to Suleiman the Magnificent. En route, he visited Venice, Ragusa, Corfu and Crete, and over the next two years travelled throughout the Ottoman domains, - to Egypt, Anatolia, Arabia, and the Holy Land - returning to France in 1549. Wherever he went, Belon described plants, birds, mammals and fish, and recorded the customs of the inhabitants - what they ate, how they reared their children - collecting information on almost every aspect of the lands through which he passes. He did not rely on hearsay, on previous accounts, or on authority: what we have are his own observations, and the result of assiduous questioning and meticulous recording. His Observations, 'written in our ordinary French tongue', were published in 1553. In April 1564, Pierre Belon was murdered by persons unknown while crossing the Bois de Boulogne. Although Pierre Belon is well known as a naturalist, and - with his treatises on fish and birds - as a founder of comparative anatomy, his Observations have not previously appeared, in full, in English. Following a distinguished career as a civil servant, James Hogarth acquired a reputation as a versatile and punctilious translator. His translations span travel guides, archaeological texts, and novels. His 2002 translation of Victor Hugo's Travailleurs de la Mer was awarded the French-American Foundation Translation Prize. He died in 2006.

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Book SynopsisIn the year 1400 the princes of Europe sympathetically were much bestirred, fearing the imminent fall of Constantinople and the extinction of the Eastern Empire. The Ottoman Sultan Bazayid (otherwise Bajazet) was already in possession of almost the whole of what subsequently became Turkey in Europe. The Emperor Manuel still was lord of Constantinople, but beyond the city walls possessed a mere strip of territory along the north coast of the Sea of Marmora, and extending to the Black Sea, a strip some fifty miles in length but under thirty in breadth. Four years before (September 1396) an immense composite crusading army under the leadership of the Count of Nevers (a cousin of king Charles VI of France) had marched against the Turks to the support of king Sigismund of Hungary. But the Christians had been completely routed by Sultan Bayazid at Nicopolis on the lower Danube, an immense number of them had been killed, a lesser number made prisoners (who later had to be ransomed at heavy cost), and Europe in terror, the Emperor Manuel now shut up in Constantinople, all were waiting to learn what the Sultan next would do.From their capital established at Brusa the Turkish Sultans, past and present, had fomented many conspiracies at the Imperial Court. The father of Manuel had been the Emperor John Palaologus (1341a'1391) and Manuel's elder brother Andronicus had at an early age been proclaimed Emperor elect.1 In the days of Bayazid's father Sultan Murad (1360 to 1389) his eldest son Savaji had made a conspiracy with Andronicus whereby these two young princes had purposed to dethrone their respective fathers. The conspiracy miscarried, Savaji was put to death which brought his younger brother Bayazid later to be Sultan, and Andronicus (in company with his young son John) was shut up in the Constantinople State prison, the celebrated Tower of the Anemas. As a result Manuel his younger brother then became heira'apparent and coa'Emperor. But in Constantinople after two years the tables were turned by a palace plot. The Emperor John Palaologus and Manuel found themselves in the Anemas Tower, while Andronicus (with John the younger) assumed the purple.Kaleidoscopic changes again ensued; the old Emperor and Manuel after two years' detention managed to make their escape from durance and regained power: Andronicus was outlawed and banished. Later, however, with John the younger, he was established in the government of Selymbria, a city on the Sea of Marmora, a few miles west of Constantinople, and the peace lasted some years.

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Book SynopsisWith the Israeli-Palestinian Peace process still unresolved, the man who led the emerging Palestinian state through the turbulent post-Arafat era, former Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie, unveils for the first time his record of the 1993 Oslo negotiations which led to this point. The charismatic Qurie, also known as Abu Ala, was pivotal to the Oslo and post-Oslo talks, and the real, if volatile, friendships he formed with his Israeli counterparts Uri Savir and Shimon Peres helped create a fundamental shift in both sides' perception of the other. Qurie's story offers a longawaited perspective on the protracted and often nail-biting negotiations which changed the Middle East forever. The issues which the Oslo talks came so close to, but ultimately failed in, resolving -namely, refugees, borders, security, Jerusalem, are now once again on the negotiating table. In this context, Qurie's candid account of secret deals, hoarsely-argued compromises and astonishing volte-faces assumes huge importance for historians and for those shaping the future of Palestine and the peace process. From Oslo to Jerusalem is not only an indispensable record, but also a compelling narrative of the drama, emotion and personalities behind a turning-point in the history of the modern Middle East.Trade ReviewNEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL REVIEW 'This book contains a detailed, meeting-by-meeting account of the 1993 Oslo agreements written by the chief negotiator for the Palestinians.'

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Book SynopsisAsadollah Alam, an urbane aristocrat from the oldest of Iran's great families, was the Sha's most trusted friend and confidant. As Prime Minister in 1962, Alam orchestrated the defeat of Ayatollah Khomeini's first serious challenge to the Pahlavi regime. Subsequently, he was made Minister of Court, a position of unique power and influence, which he retained until ill-health forced him to retire in 1977, the year before his death. Alam's diaries cover a nine-year period with remarkable frankness, recording his almost daily meetings and conversations with the Shah.Trade Review"Asadollah Alam's diaries are the stuff of true history - hastily written, post-midnight accounts of a chief courtier's days. - Independent on Sunday"

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Book SynopsisThe Safavid dynasty, which reigned from the late fifteenth to the eighteenth century, links medieval with modern Iran. The Safavids witnessed wide-ranging developments in politics, warfare, science, philosophy, religion, art and architecture. But how did this dynasty manage to produce the longest lasting and most glorious of Iran's Islamic-period eras?Andrew Newman offers a complete re-evaluation of the Safavid place in history as they presided over these extraordinary developments and the wondrous flowering of Iranian culture. In the process, he dissects the Safavid story, from before the 1501 capture of Tabriz by Shah Ismail (1488-1524), the point at which Shiism became the realm's established faith; on to the sixteenth and early seventeenth century dominated by Shah Abbas (1587-1629), whose patronage of art and architecture from his capital of Isfahan embodied the Safavid spirit; and culminating with the reign of Sultan Husayn (reg. 1694-1722).Based on meticulous scholarship, Newman offers a valuable new interpretation of the rise of the Safavids and their eventual demise in the eighteenth century. "Safavid Iran," with its fresh insights and new research, is the definitive single volume work on the subject.Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Map: Iran in the Safavid Period Introduction Laying the Foundations: Ismail I (1488-1524) Reconfiguration and Consolidation: The Reign of Tahmasp (1524-1576) The Second Civil War: Ismail II (1576-1577) and Khudabanda (1578-1587) Monumental Challenges and Monumental Responses: The Reign of Abbas I (1587-1629) Shifts at the Centre and a Peace Dividend: Shah Abbas II (1642-1666) The Peace Dividend Consolidated: Shah Abbas II (1642-1666) Meeting the Challenges: Shah Sulayman (1666.68-1694) Denouement or Defeat: The Reign of Shah Sultan Husayn (1694-1722) Epilogue: Poetry and Politics - The Multiplicity of Safavid Discourse Appendix I: Key Dates Appendix II: Key chronicles and travellers Notes Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn the troubled island of Cyprus, the national interests and rivalries of Greece and Turkey still collide, the population remains divided between the Greek and Turkish communities and the country is still a cat's paw of outside powers - especially the USA and the now resurgent Russia - as it has been since the acquisition of the island by Britain in 1878. These are problems that have been brought into sharp focus by Cyprus' entry into the European Union. William Mallinson's book is a fast-moving and incisive narrative history which portrays Cyprus as a continuing source of international tension in the Mediterranean and beyond. It features the latest source material from the recently released National Archive, vivid interviews with key players, even reports which raise awkward and embarrassing questions. His critical eye uncovers the underlying story of American and British involvement in the island's affairs, first as a key territory in Cold War politics with its close proximity to the Middle East and Asia and now as a key asset in the 'war on terror'.Trade Review"'This is an extremely lively and controversial book. [William Mallinson's] views deserve to be read with respect and to be debated.' Alan Sked, Senior Lecturer in International History, London School of Economics 'Mallinson's is an important book that will be a great service to those who are interested in the Cyprus problem.' Tam Dalyell, former Father of the House of Commons"

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Book SynopsisNader Shah, ruler of Persia from 1736 to 1747, embodied ruthless ambition, energy, military brilliance, cynicism and cruelty. His reign was filled with bloodshed, betrayal and horror. Yet Nader Shah is central to Iran's early modern history. From a shepherd boy he rose to liberate his country from foreign occupation, and make himself Shah. He took eighteenth-century Iran from political collapse to become the dominant power in the region, recovering Herat and Kandahar, conquering Moghul Delhi, plundering the enormous treasures of India, repeatedly defeating Ottoman Turkey, and overrunning most of what is now Iraq.But suspicion and avarice led him to persecute the Persian people as savagely as any foreign conqueror had done. "The Sword of Persia" recreates the story of a remarkable, ruthless man, capable of both charm and brutality, who became a monster of insane cruelty. It is a rich narrative, full of dramatic incident, including much new research into original Iranian and other material, which will prove indispensable to historians and students.Trade Review"'The best biography of the year...a superb introduction to Iran itself...not just a beautifully-written compelling work but one that is also utterly relevant today.' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'a very successful [biography]. Michael Axworthy knows his Persia...and he writes well: this is an excellent story, very ably told.' David Morgan, Times Literary Supplement"Table of ContentsList of Maps and Illustrations vii Acknowledgments ix Note on Transliteration xi Preface xv Prologue Zenith 1 Chapter One The Fall of the Safavid Dynasty 17 Chapter Two Tahmasp Qoli Khan 57 Chapter Three War with the Afghans 75 Chapter Four War with the Ottomans 99 Chapter Five Coup d’État 117 Chapter Six Nader Shah 137 Chapter Seven To the Gates of Delhi 175 Chapter Eight The Ruin of Persia 211 Chapter Nine Towers of Skulls 243 Chapter Ten Full Circle 275 Notes 287 Select Bibliography 329 Index 339

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Book SynopsisShah Abbas (1571-1629) was shah of Iran from 1588 (when he assumed power by deposing his father, whom he later murdered) until his death in 1629. He is of critical importance in the history of Iran, restoring the power of the Safavids through war and the strategic negotiation of peace. He is still acclaimed for his strong and decisive rule and the architectural achievements of his reign although he is also recognised as a tyrant, whose paranoia (probably justified) caused him to imprison and assassinate many of his own relatives including his own son, ultimately leaving the throne to his grandson.Remarkably, this is the first biography of Shah Abbas in English. "On a Persian Throne" combines rigorous scholarship with a popular style to produce the definitive, accessible and objective biography of this seminal figure in Iranian history.Trade ReviewThis is a lively, well-written biography that is sure to keep the reader engaged strikes the right balance between the anecdotal and the analytica - Rudi Matthee, Professor of Middle Eastern History, University of Delaware. The subject of Shah Abbas is fascinating and important. Moreover the book will fill a very large gap, moving beyond an ordinary biography to reflect recent scholarship - Gene Garthwaite, Jane and Raphael Bernstein Professor, Dartmouth College

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Book SynopsisThis is a rich and lively account of the women of ancient Egypt from goddesses to dancing girls, queens to housewives. The fragmentary evidence allows us only tantalising glimpses of the sophisticated and complex society of the ancient Egyptians. Carolyn Graves-Brown draws on funerary remains, tomb paintings, architecture and textual evidence to explore all aspects of women in Egypt from goddesses and queens to women as the 'vessels of creation'. This is a wide ranging and revealing account told with authority and verve.Trade ReviewTitle mention in Times Higher Education.'She writes with an obvious enthusiasm for her subject and the anthropological approach that she applies to the women of prehistoric and predynastic Egypt is most welcome... Her stated aim is to write a book that will 'encourage debate' and I have no doubt that she has achieved this ambition.' -- History TodayTable of ContentsPreface; Chronology; Chapter 1: Rich women, poor women; Chapter 2: Changing worlds; Chapter 3: 'The Egyptians in their manners and customs seem to have reversed the ordinary practices of mankind'; Chapter 4: Birth, life and death; Chapter 5: Women's work; Chapter 6: Sexuality, art and religion; Chapter 7: Queens and harems; Chapter 8: Goddesses; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisPalestine is fast disappearing. Over many decades Israel has developed and refined policies to disperse, imprison and impoverish the Palestinian people in a relentless effort to destroy them as a nation. It has industrialized Palestinian despair through ever more sophisticated systems of curfews, checkpoints, walls, permits and land grabs. It has transformed the West Bank and Gaza into laboratories for testing the infrastructure of confinement, creating a lucrative 'defence' industry by pioneering the technologies needed for crowd control, surveillance, collective punishment and urban warfare. In this insightful and authoritative new book, leading journalist Jonathan Cook examines the many different guises in which these experiments on the Palestinians are being carried out. Accessible and comprehensive, this is a powerful analysis of one of the most enduring and entrenched conflicts in contemporary world politics.Trade Review'I have been reading Jonathan's work on the internet for years. On Palestine and Israel, I can think of no more reliable source.' - John Pilger 'This is an impressive and timely book written by one of the most knowledgeable writers on the Palestine-Israel conflict. Its insight into the devastating impact of Zionist settler colonialism and its account of the current reality on the ground are unique. A must read for those seeking peace and justice in the Middle East.' - Nur Masalha, Director of the Holy Land Research Project, St Mary's University College (UK), and author of The Bible and Zionism (2007) 'No one is a keener observer of Zionism's true goals, from its bald usurpation of land and resources to its bad faith about seeking real peace. The book provides an unusual depth of evidence and sharp analysis, and a devastating indictment of Zionism. It is a penetrating piece of scholarship and a gem of easy readability.' - Kathleen Christison, former CIA analyst and author of Perceptions of Palestine (1999)Table of Contents Maps Preface Introduction Part 1 1. The Road to Dispossession 2. Greater Israel's Lure 3. Dunam after Dunam 4. Disappearing Palestine Part 2 5. Zionism and its Meanings 6. Life under Occupation 7. Compromised Critics 8. Our Embedded Media 9. Anti-Semitism and its Abuses Afterword: Two-State Dreamers Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAt the beginning of the 20th Century Jordan, like much of the Middle East, was a loose collection of tribes. By the time of its independence in 1946 it had the most firmly embedded state structures in the Arab world. Drawing on previously untapped sources, Yoav Alon examines how the disparate clan networks of Jordan were integrated into the Hashemite monarchy, with the help of the British colonial administrators. Taking a grassroot perspective, Alon looks at how the weak state institutions introduced by the Ottomans developed in British-administered Jordan. He shows how these institutions co-opted the structures of tribal society, and produced a distinctive hybrid between modern statehood and tribal confederacy which still characterises Jordan to this day. Key figures emerge in the story of Jordan's transformation, such as John Glubb, the charismatic Arab Legion commander who perceived the power of the nomadic tribes and sought to harness it to imperial Britain's statebuilding agenda. Alon's innovative approach to the origins of modern Jordan provides fresh insights not only into Jordan itself but into colonialism, modernity and the development of the state in the Middle East.Trade Review"The product of extensive research and impeccable scholarship....the best account we have" - Professor Avi Shlaim, St Antonys College, Oxford.Table of ContentsPreface Maps Introduction: The Study of State, Tribe and Colonial Rule in Jordan Between Two Empires: Transjordan on the Eve of Abdullah's Arrival 'Bedu Amir' or Constitutional Monarch? The Struggle for the Nature of the Emirate, 1921-1924 The Making of a Colonial State, 1924-1930 Colonialism as a Fine Art: Glubb Pasha and the Desert Tribes, 1928-1936 State Consolidation and Tribal Participation, 1930-1946 Conclusion: Towards an Appraisal of the Mandate's Legacy in Jordan Glossary: Tribes and Shaykhs Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Nabataean Arabs, one of the most gifted peoples of the ancient world, are today known only for their hauntingly beautiful rock-carved capital - Petra, a magnificent city carved out of the mountains, and one of the most breath-taking achievements of the ancient world. Yet they were famous in their day - Herod the Great and his sons, and a kaleidoscope of Roman emperors and generals were keenly aware of this powerful and wealthy trading kingdom. The Nabateans became inspired patrons of the arts, creating some of the most sublime and perfectly individual architecture of the time, not only at Petra, but over much of the Middle East. This richly illustrated book recounts the story of a remarkable but lost civilization. It tells of their nomadic origins, the development of their rich culture in Jordan, Syria, Arabia, Sinai and the Negev, their relations with their more famous neighbours and the demise of their kingdom at the hands of the Romans.Trade Review'An excellent book for the intelligent reader seeking an introduction to this field. The author, a writer and photographer, has done a fine job, reflecting her love of the subject matter - both text and photographs - of high quality and artistic spirit - portray the recent state of affairs and acquaintance with a variety of opinions - The book will serve well its purpose to promote updated knowledge of a fascinating ancient Arab culture beyond the limited circle of professional scholars.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review 'A paean in prose and photographs to the Nabataeans. The prose is sparkling and exuberant, and the photographs are gorgeous - The book is well-researched - and strikes a judicious balance between a detailed account of the Nabataeans and a description of the complex and dynamic historical and cultural background of the period - a pleasure to read.' Scripta Classica Israelica 'A full and accessible account of the Nabataean world, which, illuminated by her brilliant photographs, does justice to a great and unjustly forgotten civilization.' British Museum Magazine 'A vibrant narrative and photographic history - The story is seductive: lavish illustrations of spectacular monuments combine with fluid writing... The stunning photographs are simply not to be missed...The images float within her text, enhancing the lavishness of the prose' Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 'The Nabataeans created Petra - perhaps the single most astonishing site of the ancient world. Now at last, after two thousand years, Jane Taylor has given them the book they deserve. She has written a valuable and eminently enjoyable text, while her photographs do more than justice to the story of these extraordinary people.' John Julius Norwich 'I have very much enjoyed Jane Taylor's book on the Nabataeans. She writes marvellously for her audience. She has complete command of her material and obviously loves it. I was deeply impressed by reading the book.' Professor Glen Bowersock, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton

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Book SynopsisIn this magisterial work, Sami Zubaida draws on a distinguished career's worth of experience trying to understand the region to address the fundamental question in Middle East studies: what is the Middle East? He argues, controversially, that to see it through the prism of Islam, as it is conventionally viewed, is to completely misunderstand it. Many of what we think of as the 'Islamic' characteristics of the region are products of culture and society, not religion.To think of Islam itself as an essential, anti-modern force in the region rather than something shaped by specific historical-economic processes is, Zubaida argues, a mistake. Instead, he offers us an alternative view of the region, its historic cosmpolitanism, its religious and cultural diversity, its rapid adoption of new media cultures, which reveals a multi-faceted and complex region teeming with multiple identities. Wide-ranging, erudite and powerfully argued, Zubaida's work will be essential reading for future generations of students of this fascinating region.Table of ContentsIntroduction * 1. Is There a Muslim Society? * 2. Political Modernity in the Middle East * 3. Shifting Social Boundaries and Identities in the Modern Middle East * 5. Islam and Nationalism: Continuities and Contradictions * 6. The Public and the Private in Middle Eastern History and Society

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Book SynopsisThe grand narrative of "The Young Turk Legacy and Nation Building" is that of the essential continuity of the late Ottoman Empire with the Republic of Turkey that was founded in 1923. Erik J. Zurcher shows that Kemal's 'ideological toolkit', which included positivism, militarism, nationalism and a state-centred world view, was shared by many other Young Turks. Authoritarian rule, a one-party state, a legal framework based on European principles, advanced European-style bureaucracy, financial administration, military and educational reforms and state-control of Islam, can all be found in the late Ottoman Empire, as can policies of demographic engineering. The book focuses on the attempts of the Young Turks to save their empire through forced modernization as well as on the attempts of their Kemalist successors to build a strong national state. The decade of almost continuous warfare, ethnic conflict and forced migration between 1911 and 1922 forms the background to these attempts and accordingly occupies a central position in this volume. This is a powerful history reflecting and contributing to the latest research from a leading historian of modern Turkey. It is essential for all readers interested in the history of the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, and for an understanding of a key player in the politics of the Middle East and Europe.Table of ContentsPreface: Thirty Years of Turkish History I. Sources and Literature 1. The Politician as Historian, Historians in Poitics: The Nutuk (Speech) of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 2. Young Turk Memoirs as a Historical Source 3. The Historiography of Constitutional Revolution: Broad Consensus, Some Disagreemant and a Missed Opportunity 4. The Rise and Fall of Modern Turkey: Bernard Lewis's Emergence fifty years on II. Imperial Twilight 5. The Ottoman Empire 1950-1922 - Unavoidable Failure? 6. The Ides of April. A Fundamentalist Uprising in Instanbul in 1909? 7. Sultan Mekhmet V's Visit to Kosovo in June 1911 8. Who were the Young Turks? 9. The Young Turk Mindset 10. Ataturk as a Unionist 11. The Ottoman Legacy of the Kemalist Republic III. The Great War 12. The Ottoman Conscription System in Theory and Practice, 1844-1918 13. The Ottoman Soldier in World War I 14. The Ottoman Empire and Armistice of Moudhros 15. Renewal and Silence. Postwar Unionist and Kemalist Rhetoric on the Armenian Genocide IV. Toward the Nation State 16. Young Turks, Ottoman Muslims and Turkish Nationalists. Identity Politics 1908-38 17. Were Progressives Conservatives? 18. Institution Building in the Kemalist Republic compared with Pahlevi Iran: The People's Party 19. Touring Anatolia at the end of the Ataturk Era: Kemalist Turkey observed by Western Visitors 20. Islam in the Service of the Calipahe and the Secular State 21. Turning Points in and Missed Opportunities in the Modern History of Turkey: where things could gone differently? Appendix Bibliography of Erik Jan Zürcher

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Book SynopsisEarly twentieth-century Iran had been dominated by the competing influences of the two great imperial powers of the time - Russia and Britain - making it difficult for a third power to establish a foothold. But an emergent, highly industrialised and assertive Germany in the 1930s became an attractive ally through which Iran could cut loose from domination by Britain and the Soviet Union, allowing it to seek modernity outside the constraints of old imperial interests. This led to the development of close commercial ties between Reza Shah's Persia and Hitler's Germany in the interwar period, an aspect of German foreign policy that is often overlooked. It was the National Bank of Persia, established in 1927 under German management, and with Kurt Lindenblatt as its governor, that was to be the vehicle for Germany's commercial expansion into Iran. The Bank was a vital engine driving industrialisation, even after Lindenblatt retired and was followed by Gholam Reza Amir-Khosrari and a board of directors including Hossein Ala and Abdul Hossein Hazhir. By the mid-1930s, a new German foreign policy approach of active diplomacy fortified initial inroads into the Iranian economy, building upon the foundations laid by individual entrepreneurs, the National Bank and the construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway. Iran evolved into an attractive country for international trade and, at the outbreak of World War II, Germany was Iran's largest trading partner - surpassing both the Soviet Union and Britain. These close ties reveal a complex relationship between Germany and Iran, and an admiration of the Nazi's brand of industrial, scientific and organisational progress. It was, however, a relationship that came to an abrupt end with the Allied invasion of Iran in 1941 that deposed the Shah. Khatib-Shahidi delves into previously untapped German primary sources to explore the nature of German involvement in Iran between the wars, examining how it came to be moulded by a handful of individuals. This book is a revealing resource on the historical ties between Iran and Germany, making it indispensable for students and researchers of European Imperialism and Colonialism in the Middle East as well as of Iranian Political and Economic History.Trade Review'Dr Khatib-Shahidi has written a most percipient history of the surprising role the National Bank of Persia played in German-Iranian relations before World War II. He has based his study on an exhaustive trawl through German archives including that of the Ministry of Finance and of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. From the many dispatches and reports the reader gains a clear insight into the machinations of the German directors of the Bank in their attempts to further their political and economic goals. This is a most valuable addition to the history of Iran's foreign relations and of German policy and to the economic history of the Middle East in general.' Derek Hopwood, University of Oxford 'This is an excellent and long overdue study of an important but hitherto neglected subject. Based on a thorough examination of German archives, some only recently available, the book sheds much light on the relations between Germany under Adolf Hitler and Reza Shah's Iran. Its account of the National Bank of Persia is highly original but it also contains a wealth of information about the broader political and economic history of interwar Iran, much of which will be new to an English-speaking readership. The book is well written and it will become essential reading for specialists on the period as well as being of interest to a wider general audience.' Stephanie Cronin, University of OxfordTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Persia, the International Environment, and the German Economic Approach Chapter 2: German Foreign Policy Towards Persia Chapter 3: German Foreign and Economic Relations in Persia: Their Evolution and the Role of the National Bank Chapter 4: Challenges for German Foreign Policy towards Persia and the National Bank Chapter 5: The National Bank Controversy and the End of the Taimurtash Era Chapter 6: The Lindenblatt Affair and the National Bank Chapter 7: Germany’s Political Relations Advance Economic Influence in Persia Chapter 8: Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Tuareg (Kel Tamasheq) are an ancient nomadic people who have inhabited the Sahara, one of the most extreme environments in the world, for millennia. In what ways have the lives of the Tuareg changed, and what roles do they have, in a modern and increasingly globalized world? Here, leading scholars explore the many facets of contemporary Tuareg existence: from transnational identity to international politics, from economy to social structure, from music to beauty, from mobility to slavery. This book provides a comprehensive portrait of Saharan life in transition, presenting an important new theoretical approach to the anthropology and history of the region. Dealing with issues of mobility, cosmopolitanism, and transnational movements, this is essential reading for students and scholars of the history, culture and society of the Tuareg, of nomadic peoples, and of North Africa more widely. This book is the first comprehensive study of the Tuareg today, exploring the ways in which the Tuareg themselves are moving global.Trade Review'[This] is a book that comes at the right time, when the need to rethink Tuareg culture - and other African cultures - in their wider (now 'global') context has become widely and deeply felt in African Studies. It embodies vast amounts of first-class fieldwork and deploys insightful conceptual frames in the exploration of the empirical evidence. - I believe it will appeal not only to established academics, but also to students - and not only to those specialising in the study of the Tuareg.' - Dr P.F. de Moraes Farias, Honorary Senior Fellow, Centre of West African Studies, University of Birmingham; 'By focusing on the transitions of Tuareg societies whose 'classical' delimitations by ethnographers and anthropologists become more and more doubtful - [this book] actually takes into account the contemporary reality of the Tuareg who live in the borderlands between Mali, Niger, Algeria and Libya. In this context they want to explore the consequences of the various aspects of globalisation, and, the various ways the Tuareg respond to and cope with growing influences from the outside.' - Dr Georg Klute, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of BayreuthTable of Contents1. Tuareg Moving Global: An Introduction Ines Kohl and Anja Fischer PART I: WHERE IS SAHARAN ANTHROPOLOGY GOING? 2. Research and Nomads in the Age of Globalization Anja Fischer 3. Tuareg Networks: An Integrated Approach to Mobility and Stasis Alessandra Giuffrida 4. Tuareg City Blues: Cultural Capital in a Global Cosmopole Baz Lecocq PART II: FROM PAST TO PRESENT: ONGOING DISCOURSES 5. Foreign Cloth and Kel Ewey Identity Gerd Spittler 6. Genesis and Change in the Socio-political Structure of the Tuareg Dida Badi 7. Tuareg Trajectories of Slavery: Preliminary Reflections on a Changing Field Benedetta Rossi PART III: DIVERSIFIED NORMS AND VALUES 8. The Price of Marriage: Shifting Boundaries, Compromised Agency and the Effects of Globalization on Iklan Marriages Annemarie Bouman 9. Debating Beauties: Contested and Changing Female Bodily Aesthetics of Fatness among the Tuareg Susan Rasmussen 10. Libya, the ‘Europe of Ishumar’: Between Losing and Reinventing Tradition Ines Kohl 11. The Ishumar Guitar: Emergence, Circulation and Evolution, from the Diasporic Performances to the World Scene Nadia Belalimat 12. Between the Worlds: Tuareg as Entrepreneurs in Tourism Marko Scholze PART IV: SAHARA: GLOBAL PLAYGROUND 13. Ambiguous Meanings of Ikufar and their Role in Development Projects Sarah Lunacek 14. Resisting Imperialism: Tuareg Threaten US, Chinese and Other Foreign Interests Jeremy Keenan

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Book SynopsisIn this ground-breaking book, aimed at new generation of students, Stig Stenslie and Kjetil Selvik provide a new introduction to the contemporary Middle East, using topical questions about stability and change as a way of interrogating the politics, economics and history of the region. How have regimes from North Africa to the Gulf perpetuated themselves in spite of the weakness of the Western-style state, the Islamist trend, and the destabilising effects of war and terrorism? What strategies have states used to control their societies, and how have both states and societies adapted over time? Both an accessible reference resource and a thought-provoking analysis, Stability and Change in the Modern Middle East introduces the key theoretical concepts for understanding the region and the freshest thinking on debates surrounding them, and brings the empirical material in to sharp focus through its unique thematic approach.Trade Review'At a time when there is vigorous debate about the potential for reform in the politics of the Middle East, sometimes slipping into alarm and disillusion, this book provides a much-needed grounding for thinking seriously through these issues. Its focus on the forces and limitations of change is a refreshing corrective to those volumes that lead readers to think that the Middle East is inhabited solely by fighters, victims and ideologues. Perhaps most impressively it draws heavily upon the politics of the smaller and often misunderstood states to illustrate how their politics exemplify many of the key issues that affect today's - and tomorrow's - Middle East.' - Glen Rangwala, Lecturer and Fellow of Trinity College, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Troubled Heritage PART I: Society, Identity, State Chapter 3: Class Chapter 4: Ethnicity PART II: Ideology and Legitimacy Chapter 5: Reformism Chapter 6: Islamism PART III: The Organisation of State Power Chapter 7: Monarchies Chapter 8: Republics PART IV: Scenarios of Change Chapter 9: Democratisation Chapter 10: Breakdown Chapter 11: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisHoushang Asadi’s Letters to My Torturer is one of the most harrowing accounts of human suffering to emerge from Iran and is now available for the first time in paperback. Kept in solitary confinement for over two years in an infamous Tehran prison, Asadi suffered inhuman degradations and brutal torture: suspended from the ceiling, beaten, and forced to bark like a dog, Asadi became a spy for the Russians, for the British – for anyone. Narrowly escaping execution as the government unleashed a bloody pogrom against political prisoners, Asadi was hauled before a sham court and sentenced to fifteen years. Here he confronts his torturer, speaking for those who will never be heard, and provides a glimpse into the heart of Iran and the practice of state-sponsored justice.Trade Review"[B]eautifully crafted, lyrical, and sad... An important firsthand account." * Library Journal *"The book would be remarkable on any terms, but it is made especially memorable by the chilling irony and heartbreaking naïveté that characterize Mr. Asadi’s tale... Mr. Asadi's dispassionate description of his experiences makes the book a permanent addition to the harrowing genre of the torture memoir. A powerful testament to what transpires in the prisons of Iran." * The Wall Street Journal *"The book would be remarkable on any terms, but it is made especially memorable by the chilling irony and heartbreaking naïveté that characterize Mr. Asadi’s tale... Mr. Asadi's dispassionate description of his experiences makes the book a permanent addition to the harrowing genre of the torture memoir. A powerful testament to what transpires in the prisons of Iran." * The Wall Street Journal *"With moving stories about fellow prisoners, biting commentary on the religious dictates imposed by his jailers, and meditations on the soul-destroying effect of false confessions and the special cruelty of his ideological, authoritarian interrogators, Asadi’s simple prose attracts even as the facts he reports repel...A horrifying glimpse of the decades-long nightmare still afflicting the people of Iran." * Kirkus Reviews *"A searing and unforgettable account. . . Asadi is a gifted storyteller." * Publishers Weekly *"Beautifully crafted, lyrical, and sad... An important firsthand account". * Library Journal *"A searing and unforgettable account. . . Asadi is a gifted storyteller." * Publishers Weekly *"Iranian journalist Asadi offers a searing and unforgettable account of the six years he spent in prison after being arrested in 1981 in the aftermath of the Islamic revolution. Twenty years later, now living in Paris, Asadi records his recollections of torture and imprisonment in the form of 27 letters to his interrogator, whom he calls Brother Hamid. Required at all times to wear a blindfold in Brother Hamid’s presence, Asadi developed a relationship with and a perverse dependence upon his torturer, which he describes in graphic detail, along with the endless parade of humiliations he was required to endure while being falsely accused of being both a British and a Soviet spy. Asadi is a gifted storyteller; even if the text, which jumps about chronologically, can be momentarily confusing, his ability to convey the toll of torture and imprisonment is undiminished. And the choice of the epistolary narrative device is a felicitous one: it’s as if the reader has found these letters in a shoebox or a locked drawer, making for harrowing and unique reading." (June) * Publishers Weekly *"With moving stories about fellow prisoners, biting commentary on the religious dictates imposed by his jailers, and meditations on the soul-destroying effect of false confessions and the special cruelty of his ideological, authoritarian interrogators, Asadi’s simple prose attracts even as the facts he reports repel...A horrifying glimpse of the decades-long nightmare still afflicting the people of Iran." * Kirkus Reviews *

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