Middle Eastern history Books

Book SynopsisIn the mid-1960s, the Soviet Union unveiled the BMP, the first true infantry fighting vehicle. A revolutionary design, the BMP marked a significant departure from the traditional armoured personnel carrier, with a lower silhouette and heavier armament than rival APCs. One of the most fearsome light-armoured vehicles of its day, it caused great consternation on the other side of the Iron Curtain as the Americans scrambled to design a machine to rival the BMP. The result was the M2/M3 Bradley. These Cold War icons first clashed not on the plains of Europe, but in southern Iraq during the Gulf War of 1991. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork, this is the absorbing story of the origins, development and combat performance of the BMP and Bradley, culminating in the bloody battles of the Gulf War.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Design and Development /The Strategic Situation /Technical Specifications /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Conclusion /Further Reading /Index

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Book SynopsisThis collection of translated primary sources for Ottoman history shows how the major institutions of Ottoman government developed, and how they functioned in practice. Each text benefits from a brief contextualising introduction, annotations and a glossary explaining technical terminology and problems of interpretation.

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Book Synopsis''Hugely inspiring . . . A unique tribute to the power of books and the unquenchable human spirit'' MICHAEL PALIN''An inspiring read - humanity at its best'' DAVID NOTT, author of War DoctorDaraya lies on the fringe of Damascus, just south west of the Syrian Capital. Besieged by government forces since 2011, its people were deprived of food, bombarded by bombs and missiles, and shot at by snipers. But while the streets above echoed with rifle fire, deep beneath lay a secret library - a haven of peace with books lining almost every wall. Many people had risked their lives to save these precious titles from the devastation of war. Because to them, the secret library was a symbol of hope - of their belief that books would triumph over bombs and help them rebuild their fractured society. This is the true story of an extraordinary place and the people who made it happen.Trade ReviewMike Thomson's relationship with the people of Daraya as they were being systematically smashed to pieces has produced one of the most extraordinary stories to come out of the Syrian conflict. The assembly of a library under almost daily threat of death and destruction is appalling and at the same time, hugely inspiring. A unique tribute to the power of books and the unquenchable human spirit -- MICHAEL PALINAn inspiring read - humanity at its best overcoming adversity at the height of war with the power of love for their secret library -- DAVID NOTTHugely stirring * DAILY MAIL *Compassionate and inspiring * NEW YORK TIMES *In a country devastated by war, this incredible story shows how one library has thrived * WOMAN & HOME *A Syrian tale of cultural resistance ... provides moving testimony to Syrian students' passion for books ... a small band of enthusiasts convinced of the redemptive power of reading ... determined both to keep their minds sharp and do something for their community ... dodged sniper fire daily to salvage whatever volumes they could find from the wreckage of homes and public buildings * TLS *

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Book SynopsisHatim El-Hibri explores how the creation and circulation of images has shaped the urban spaces and cultural imaginaries of Beirut, showing how images can be used to consolidate or destabilize regimes of power.Trade Review“Hatim El-Hibri weaves a narrative that articulates concealment and infrastructure onto a conceptual terrain that transcends the empirical context of Lebanon. This engaging, groundbreaking, and indispensable book makes a truly meaningful and influential intervention in global media studies, Middle East studies, and urban studies.” -- Marwan M. Kraidy, author of * The Naked Blogger of Cairo: Creative Insurgency in the Arab World *“Visions of Beirut is a compelling work of careful analysis and creative connections that proposes a historically informed set of powerful readings about the transformations of Beirut's public(s) and spaces. Hatim El-Hibri masterfully deconstructs outmoded assumptions about Lebanon's political economy and societies, unravelling instead the everyday visual infrastructures that sustain and reproduce forces such as sectarianism and financialization. The outcome is an important contribution that implores us to think critically about how image, its mediation, and infrastructures are remaking cities in today's world.” -- Mona Fawaz, Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at the American University of Beirut“Visions of Beirut comes at a crucial moment for the city and for the country, coinciding with the most stringent economic crisis Lebanon has ever faced and in the aftermath of one of the largest nonnuclear explosions ever recorded.... The recent events confirm, once again, El-Hibri’s treatise and the validity of its theoretical framework." -- Aya Jazaierly * Information & Culture *“Visions of Beirut offers a lot to its readers. It will be of great interest to scholars of global media, Middle Eastern studies, and urban studies and will make an excellent addition to many graduate-level syllabi.” -- Blake Atwood * International Journal of Middle East Studies *Table of ContentsNote on Translation and Transliteration vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1. The Social Life of Maps of Beirut 21 2. Images of Before/After in the Economy of Postwar Construction 64 3. Concealment, Liveness, and Al Manar TV 105 4. The Open Secret of Concealment at the Mleeta Museum 144 Conclusion 178 Notes 183 References 217 Index 247

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Book SynopsisThe earliest surviving instance of sustained first-person travel narrative in ArabicMission to the Volga is a pioneering text of peerless historical and literary value. In its pages, we move north on a diplomatic mission from Baghdad to the upper reaches of the Volga River in what is now central Russia. In this colorful documentary from the tenth century, the enigmatic Ibn Fadlan relates his experiences as part of an embassy sent by Caliph al-Muqtadir to deliver political and religious instruction to the recently-converted King of the Bulghars. During eleven months of grueling travel, Ibn Fadlan records the marvels he witnesses on his journey, including an aurora borealis and the white nights of the North. Crucially, he offers a description of the Viking Rus, including their customs, clothing, body painting, and a striking account of a ship funeral. Together, these anecdotes illuminate a vibrant world of diversity during the heyday of the Abbasid Empire, naTrade ReviewMontgomery's edition...is itself the product of many years' research, travel, and discussion and should become definitive. * Speculum *A compelling account which is, among other things, the earliest first-hand description of travel from the Muslim world. * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisIran's prison system is a foundational institution of Iranian political modernity. The Incarcerated Modern traces the transformation of Iran from a decentralized empire with few imprisoned persons at the turn of the twentieth century into a modern nation-state with over a quarter million prisoners today. In policing the line between "bad criminal" and "good citizen," the carceral system has shaped and reshaped Iranian understandings of citizenship, freedom, and political belonging. Golnar Nikpour explores the interplay between the concrete space of the Iranian prison and the role of prisons in producing new public cultures and political languages in Iran. From prison writings of 1920s leftist prisoners and communiqués of 1950s militant Islamists, to paintings of 1970s revolutionary guerrillas and mapping projects organized by contemporary dissident prisoners, carceral confinement has shaped modern Iranian political movements. Today, mass incarceration is a global phenomenon. The Incarcerated Modern connects Iranian history to transnational carceral histories to illuminate the shared architectures, economies, and techniques of modern punishment. Trade Review"Prisons that purport to isolate from public view nevertheless have a public life, Golnar Nikpour contends in this revelatory study. The Incarcerated Modern's depiction of transnational solidarity and human rights movements attempting to confront carcerality worldwide is acute and indispensable."—Samuel Moyn, Yale University"The Incarcerated Modern tells the story of Iran's transformation from a fading empire into a modern nation-state. Steeped in rich archival research, the book brilliantly unpacks the foundational significance of the carceral system and reveals the paradox of this massive system of surveillance—stabilizing the state while creating the space in which modern political movements came into being. A must read!"—Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi, Princeton University"The Incarcerated Modern is one of those exceptionally rare, original books that transcends academic disciplines and opens up myriad terrains of inquiry. Golnar Nikpour powerfully and convincingly illustrates how the modern prison is global in scope—linked to colonial histories, nation-states, and global politics."—Shahla Talebi, Arizona State UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: On the Significance of the Iranian Prison 1. Lawlessness and Order: The Qajar Roots of Modern Prisons in Iran 2. The Criminal Is the Patient, the Prison Will Be the Cure: Building the Carceral Imagination in Pahlavi Iran 3. Like a Fertile Storm: Prisons and Revolutionary Worldmaking in the Iranian Guerrilla Era 4. The Iranian Prison Goes Global: Iranian Revolutionaries and the International Human Rights Movement 5. Making an Example: Carceral Utopianism and Prison Expansion in Revolutionary Iran 6. Carcerality beyond Prisons?: The Politics of Punishment in the Contemporary Islamic Republic Conclusion: Politics and Prisons beyond Reform Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAs far back as she can remember, Azadeh Moaveni has felt at odds with her tangled identity as an Iranian-American. In suburban America, Azadeh lived in two worlds. At home, she was the daughter of the Iranian exile community, serving tea, clinging to tradition, and dreaming of Tehran. Outside, she was a California girl who practiced yoga and listened to Madonna. For years, she ignored the tense standoff between her two cultures. But college magnified the clash between Iran and America, and after graduating, she moved to Iran as a journalist. This is the story of her search for identity, between two cultures cleaved apart by a violent history. It is also the story of Iran, a restive land lost in the twilight of its revolution. Moaveni's homecoming falls in the heady days of the country's reform movement, when young people demonstrated in the streets and shouted for the Islamic regime to end. In these tumultuous times, she struggles to build a life in a dark country, wholly unlike the luminous, saffron and turquoise-tinted Iran of her imagination. As she leads us through the drug-soaked, underground parties of Tehran, into the hedonistic lives of young people desperate for change, Moaveni paints a rare portrait of Iran's rebellious next generation. The landscape of her Tehran , ski slopes, fashion shows, malls and cafes , is populated by a cast of young people whose exuberance and despair brings the modern reality of Iran to vivid life.Trade Review"Azadeh Moaveni gives the reader a guided tour through the underground youth culture in Tehran... her book lays out a rich, tactile portrait of her and her friends' daily life in Tehran... an illuminating book." New York Times "Beautifully nuanced, illuminating. Moaveni is perfectly situated to report on normal Iranian life... She takes up everything: the political climate, the female sphere, the distinction of public and private behaviour, teenagers' rebellion, the challenge of creating a career, even the quest to exercise without a veil. Moaveni makes Iran a distinct entity." Kirkus Reviews"

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Book SynopsisThe founding of the first Persian Empire by the Achaemenid king Cyrus the Great in the sixth century BCE established one of the greatest world powers of antiquity. Extending from the borders of Greece to northern India, Persia was seen by the Greeks as a vastly wealthy and powerful rival and often as an existential threat. When the Macedonian king Alexander the Great finally conquered the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BCE, Greek culture spread throughout the Near East, but local dynasties-first the Parthian (247 BCE-224 CE) and then the Sasanian (224-651 CE)-reestablished themselves. The rise of the Roman Empire as a world power quickly brought it, too, into conflict with Persia, despite the common trade that flowed through their territories. Persia addresses the political, intellectual, religious, and artistic relations between Persia, Greece, and Rome from the seventh century BCE to the Arab conquest of 651 CE. Essays by international scholars trace interactions and exchanges of influence. With more than three hundred images, this richly illustrated volume features sculpture, jewelry, silver luxury vessels, coins, gems, and inscriptions that reflect the Persian ideology of empire and its impact throughout Persia's own diverse lands and the Greek and Roman spheres. This volume is published to accompany a major international exhibition presented at the Getty Villa from April 6 to August 8, 2022.Trade Review"This is a spectacular book, offering fascinating insights into three great ancient Persian empires and their interactions with Classical Greece and Rome. Groundbreaking essays by the leading scholars in the field open our eyes to how people lived and interacted, their motivations, and the outcomes of their choices. This catalogue provides detailed discussion of the hundreds of glorious artifacts brought together in the J. Paul Getty Museum's exhibition from museums across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The exhibition at the Getty Villa is beautifully reflected and augmented by this richly illustrated and documented volume, one that will delight and ignite the curiosity of specialists and the curious public alike. A magnificent book, worthy of the installation that inspired it!"--Elspeth R. M. Dusinberre, College Professor of Distinction, Classics Department, University of Colorado Boulder; "In Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World, leading experts offer an up-to-date, highly interesting overview of the great epochs Iran experienced under the Achaemenid, Arsacid, and Sasanian dynasties. These key periods in Iranian history become palpable to a substantial extent in the political and cultural encounter with classical Greece, the Seleucid kingdom, and the Roman Empire. The different perspectives with which the individual authors look at the history and material culture open up many new perspectives, even for the specialist. The catalogue's illustrations make the complexity of the tradition impressively visible." -- Dr. Bruno Jacobs, Professor Emeritus, University of Basel

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive study of the iron objects found in Tutankhamun's tomb that include daggers, quivers, arrows, and an elaborately decorated bow caseA century after Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon's sensational discovery in 1922 of the virtually intact tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, the boy-king and his treasures continue to fascinate people all over the world. Although nearly 5,400 objects accompanied the young pharaoh on his journey to the afterlife, many of them have not been investigated in detail.Iron from Tutankhamun's Tomb analyzes iron artifacts from the tomb in depth for the first time. This group consists of small iron chisels set into wooden handles, an Eye of Horus amulet, a miniature headrest, and the blade of a richly decorated golden dagger. The most important of these were placed in close proximity to the king's mummy, emphasizing the high value attributed to this rare material in late Bronze Age Egypta time when iron smelting was not yet known in the land of the Nile.Written by a research team of archaeologists, scientists, and conservators, this comprehensive study explores in fascinating detail the context and meaning of these artifacts, while establishing for the first time that Tutankhamun's iron came from meteorites. They complete their examination with the results of chemical analyses, offering in the process a rich overall understanding of iron and its significance in ancient Egypt.

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Book SynopsisIn March 2004, the unprovoked ambush, killing and desecration of the bodies of American civilian security contractors in Fallujah, Iraq, caused the National Command Authorities in Washington, DC. to demand that the newly arrived Marine Expeditionary Force there take action against the perpetrators and other insurgent forces. Planned Stability and Support Operations were cast aside as insurgent fighters dared the Marines to enter Fallujah. Marine infantrymen, tankers, helicopter crews, and amphibious vehicle drivers all pitched into high-intensity battles and firefights during the first fights of Fallujah in April 2004. Across the board cooperation and innovation marked these fighting Marines in combined arms fights that no one expected. Marines fought in the streets, conducted house-to-house searches, cleared buildings of enemy, and used tank main guns in direct support of urban environment operations. Helicopter crews supported operations on the ground with rockets and machine-gun fire, and Amtrac Marines transported forces to face enemy RPG and machine-gun fire. Marines from infantry squad members to a battalion commander were interviewed by Marine Corps field historians within days or weeks of the events at nearby combat outposts and camps. This book combines these interview notes and the words of the men themselves to create a unique narrative of Marines in this combat.Trade Review[A]n anthology of raw, brutal eye-witness accounts of the Marines sent to clear the Iraqi city of Fallujah of insurrectionists in the early months of 2004. * ARGunners.com *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1: Lay of the Land - Field history team travel and arrival Chapter 2: Marine Tankers and Trackers - Marines in tanks supporting infantry, and daring rescue of a surrounded Marine infantry squad from Bravo 1/5 Chapter 3: Weapons Company, 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment (1/5) Chapter 4 : Marine Aviation - Staff officers, helicopter pilots and crew members (supporting operations in Fallujah) Chapter 5: Infantry - 2nd Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment (2/2) Chapter 6: Infantry - 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment (2/1) Chapter 7: Infantry - Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment (1/5) Chapter 8: Final Thoughts - “Sir, what’s gonna happen with this interview?”

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Book SynopsisHow was Istanbul, once the capital of the Ottoman Empire and now the financial heart of contemporary Turkey, provisioned in the early 19th century? Tracing how the sovereign's duty to provision the city and protect his subjects from hunger was gradually transferred to the market and became a responsibility of the subjects (later, citizens) alone, Feeding Istanbul makes a compelling case for situating food politics, and politics of urban provisioning in particular, at the centre of our conceptualisation of the relationship between the sovereign and the political community.Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsList of Illustrations1 Introduction 1 Three Food Regimes 2 So, What Are Food Regimes? 3 Success vs. Failure: Scarcity, Hunger, Malnutrition, and Famine 4 The Political Economy of Urban Provisioning 5 Notes on Terms, Periodization, and Methodology 6 Chapter Outlines2 The Hungry Capital  The Provisioning of Ottoman Istanbul  1 The Provisioning Apparatuses: Routes, Ports, and Actors 2 Shared Provisioning Apparatuses 3 Sovereignty and Kudret 4 Timelines and Macro Processes 5 Transitions: Global Wheat, Local Plum 6 The Urban Food Provisioning Food Regime3 Unruly Transitions 1 The War Years and Republican Istanbul’s Codependent Provisioning  1.1  Years of War  1.2  Republican Istanbul 2 Urban Provisioning During Unruly Transitions 3 Scarcity in War vs. Scarcity in Peace 4 The Emerging Food Regime4 Planned Scarcities 1 Growing Istanbul: The Pangs of Development or the Crisis of Capitalism?  1.1  The 1950s: Menderes’ Istanbul  1.2  The 1960s and 1970s: Volatile Growth 2 A Rationed Sovereignty 3 Urban Provisioning in Import Substitution 4 The Codependent Provisioning Food Regime5 Feeding Global Istanbul 1 The 1980s: From Import Substitution to Market Liberalization 2 The 1990s: A Decade of Crises 3 The 2000s: A World City? Globalization and Istanbul 4 The Contemporary Provisioning Apparatus  4.1  In the Day of a Bazaar Vendor  4.2  At the Hal 5 A Precarious Sovereignty or the Sovereignty of Precarity? 6 The Urban Food Supply Chain Food Regime6 Diverging Paths 1 The 2010s: From Consolidation to Domination 2 The Future of Istanbul’s Provisioning Apparatus 3 The Promise of a Different Future 4 Of the Sovereignty, Political Community, and the Central Authority 5 The Global and the Local7 ConclusionAppendix 1 Some Early Sources on Istanbul’s Bağ, Bahçe, and BostanAppendix 2 List of Various Foods Provisioned to Istanbul and Their Locations of ProductionBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIn this vivid first-person narrative, a Special Operations Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) and his commanding general give fascinating and detailed accounts of America’s fight against one of the most barbaric insurgencies the world has ever seen. In the summer of 2014, three years after America’s full troop withdrawal from the Iraq War, President Barack Obama authorized a small task force to push back into Baghdad. Their mission: Protect the Iraqi capital and U.S. embassy from a rapidly emerging terrorist threat. A plague of brutality, that would come to be known as ISIS, had created a foothold in northwest Iraq and northeast Syria. It had declared itself a Caliphate—an independent nation-state administered by an extreme and cruel form of Islamic law—and was spreading like a newly evolved virus. Soon, a massive and devastating U.S. military response had unfolded. Hear the ground truth on the senior military and political interactions that shaped America’s war against ISIS, a war unprecedented in both its methodology and its application of modern military technology. Enter the world of the Strike Cell, secretive operations centers where America’s greatest enemies are hunted and killed day and night. Plunge into the realm of the Special Operations JTAC, American warfighters with the highest enemy kill counts on the battlefield. And gain the wisdom of a cumulative half-century of military experience as Dana Pittard and Wes Bryant lay out the path to a sustained victory over ISIS. For more information about the book, visit www.huntingthecaliphate.com.Trade Review"With the complementary insights of a general and his senior enlisted man, along with an insider's eye for detail and an unshakeable belief in their mission, Pittard and Bryant expertly pull back the curtain on the front line fight against ISIS. From Iraq to Afghanistan and Syria, Pittard and Bryant describe the development of a devastating air campaign waged from a distance, where rapid life or death decisions must be made with limited information and murky rules of engagement, and where ultimate success hinges on coordination between a state-of-the-art operations center with a small group of highly-trained Americans led by Pittard and Bryant, and their indigenous allies battling ISIS on the ground. Eye-opening, candid, and at times deeply human, Hunting the Caliphate is a must read for understanding a new kind of war told by two men who not only fought that war, but helped define it." -- David Broyles, former USAF Pararescueman (PJ) and co-creator of History Channel's combat drama, SIX"From mass executions to pinpoint air strikes, political and military frustrations, and the politics of coalition warfare, Hunting the Caliphate is a compelling blend of military history and first-person memories of the war against terror—the complex battlefield, the joys of victory, the tragedy of loss and the sacrifice of the men and women who carried out the mission. An insider account from a senior Army ground commander and a front line battlefield airman, the book is a gritty, compelling read for all who hope to understand America’s longest war." -- Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the Air Force, author of Aim High: Chart Your Course and Find Success“Simply excellent. Hunting the Caliphate is the first account to give sustained insights into the events and personalities shaping the war on ISIS that academics and journalists have been unable to capture except in snapshots. Effectively written, and with editing nothing short of first-rate, it is a descriptive and gripping narrative from two contrasting yet intersecting perspectives that offers readers a broader view of the US military campaign against ISIS. As a historian of modern combat operations, I applaud the insightful observations appearing throughout that serve to accurately convey an important history—and dispel its myths.” -- Mark J. Reardon, Senior Historian, US Army Center of Military History"Providing an in-depth view into the worlds of military commands and strike forces on the ground, the book reveals insider details such as how the use of drones and airstrikes—representing a significant change in American warfare—came about. Though primarily a memoir, the text straddles several genres, all of which keep Pittard and Bryant at the fore. They provide both a historical account of the fight and psychological insights into the mentalities of professional soldiers... Pittard and Bryant take turns telling the story, but the narrative is cohesive and engaging, revealing stories that most of the general public will not know... Hunting the Caliphate is a raw and honest account of how ISIS was beaten, told from the inside by those who brought the caliphate down.” -- Foreword Clarion Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe inspiring story of how one woman forged a series of unprecedented partnerships across national, tribal, and religious boundaries to impact an overwhelming crisis against near impossible odds.Set against the backdrop of the Syrian civil war and the massive humanitarian crisis it produced, Georgette Bennett tells the largely untold story of how sworn enemies—Syrians and Israelis, Jews and Muslims—came to trust each other with their lives in order to alleviate terrible suffering. The dramatic tale of their unlikely collaboration illustrates what a few determined individuals can do in the face of inertia, inefficiency, and widespread indifference. It also shows how the novel concept of humanitarian diplomacy offers a beacon of hope for all the hate-based clashes occurring around the world today.Trade Review"Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By is the story of one of the most important and improbable humanitarian initiatives of our time. In turn inspiring, heartbreaking, and exhilarating, this book is above all a testament to how a few determined people can change one tortured corner of the world. Anyone concerned with the future of the Middle East—with the future of humanity—should read this powerful book." -- Yossi Klein Halevi, Senior Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, Author, "Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor""Georgette Bennett is not one to stand idly by, and when confronted with the Syrian refugee crisis of historic proportions, she dove in to find a way to help. She never took no for an answer, pulled out all the stops to corral governments, armies, organizations, and civil society to stop their real wars and their turf wars to cooperate, at least in the 'crevices,' to help people most in need on a huge scale. This is humanitarian diplomacy at its best, engineered by a civilian Jewish woman of conviction in a region where any or all of those can get you in huge trouble. Not only is the blow by blow riveting, but here is a story to inspire all of us to use what we have at our disposal to help each other as humans, and to get past the rigidities which have left way too many as collateral damage." -- Anthony Marx, President and CEO, New York Public Library"Georgette Bennett has turned her life story into a force for humanity. When she sees suffering, she takes personal and moral responsibility to do something about it. The Syria war is a stain on humanity and this book shows what it means to stand by Syrians suffering at the hands of their own government. The world needs more people like Georgette." -- David Miliband, President, International Rescue Committee and former UK Foreign Secretary"Georgette Bennett is truly one of our better angels, caretaking all of us by caretaking those most in need: Syrian refugees. A child of the Holocaust, she is also the woman who established the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian refugees. Refugees everywhere need everyone's help all over the world and Georgette Bennett is on the front lines of it all. We owe her a debt of gratitude." -- Mandy Patinkin, Actor, Activist on behalf of refugees"This remarkable book is a testament to three things: first, the inhumanity that persists in the world, seen in the brutal treatment by the Syrian regime of millions of its own people. Second, the painstaking, behind-the-scenes and largely thankless work that goes into trying to help those suffering on a massive scale. And third, the difference one person can make. It's the story of Georgette Bennett, private citizen with a steely determination to come to their rescue, who found the unlikeliest of benefactors, and to this day, simply refuses to give up." -- Judy Woodruff, Anchor and Managing Editor, The PBS NewsHour"Blessed are the peacemakers and blessed is Georgette Bennett. In this fascinating and well-written book, she describes her dogged efforts to help those devastated by conflict and search for ways to bring people of differing faiths together. The stories she tells us an important reminder that we could all do more to try to make the world a better place." -- Fareed Zakaria, Host, CNN GPS

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Book SynopsisAdel Guindy has produced a timely and authoritative account of the Copts'' story. It deserves to be widely read... this timely and excellent book will act as a wakeup call.... It reminds us that historically, the Copts have been Egypt''s beating heart and that Egypt''s future, without them, would be bleak indeed. PROFESSOR LORD ALTON, MEMBER OF THE BRITISH HOUSE OF LORDS A Sword Over the Nile is a most welcome book and contribution to the existing literature. Here in one volume, we have the largely unknown historical experiences of Egypt''s Coptic Christians under Islam--and from the most primary if previously inaccessible or untranslated sources. Not only is it a window to the past; it may be an ominous look to the future. RAYMOND IBRAHIM, AN EXPERT ON ISLAMIC DOCTRINEAND HISTORY, IS AUTHOR OF SWORD AND SCIMITAR:FOURTEEN CENTURIES OF WAR BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST

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Book SynopsisAn introduction to the geology of Egypt and its influence on ancient Egyptian cultureWhile much is known about Egypt’s towering pyramids, mighty obelisks, and extraordinary works of art, less is known about the role played by Egypt’s geological history in the formation of pharaonic culture’s artistic and architectural legacy. The fertile soils that lined the Nile Valley meant that the people of Egypt were able to live well off the land. Yet what allowed ancient Egypt to stand apart from other early civilizations was its access to the vast range of natural resources that lay beyond the Nile floodplain.In this engagingly written book, Colin Reader invites readers to explore the influence of geology and landscape on the development of the cultures of ancient Egypt. After describing today’s Egyptian landscape and introducing key elements of the ancient Egyptian worldview, he provides a basic geological toolkit to address issues such as geological time and major earth-forming processes. The developments that gave the geology of Egypt its distinct character are explored, including the uplifting of mountains along the Red Sea coast, the evolution of the Nile river, and the formation of the vast desert areas beyond the Nile Valley. As the story unfolds, elements of Egypt’s archaeology are introduced, together with discussions of mining and quarrying, construction in stone, and the ways in which the country’s rich geological heritage allowed the culture of ancient Egypt to evolve. Ideal for non-specialists and specialists alike, and supported with over one hundred illustrations, A Gift of Geology takes the reader on a fascinating journey into Egypt’s geological landscape and its relationship to the marvels of pharaonic culture.Trade Review"Fascinating . . . hugely ambitious . . . .This is a book that should be on every Egyptologist’s bookshelf."—Ancient Egypt Magazine"[A] travel-sized masterclass. . . . The breadth of this volume makes it perfect for anyone wanting to ground their knowledge of ancient Egypt into a geographic reality, and it should be essential reading for undergraduates in the field."—Egyptian Archeology "A fascinating overview of the Egyptian landscape and the long geological processes that gave rise to one of the world's most unique civilizations."—The Explorers Journal“[A] congenial . . . easy read. . . . a delight.”—Litro Magazine"An authoritative, valuable, accessible introduction to Egypt's geology and its influence on understanding ancient Pharaonic Egyptian culture. Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. General readers."—CHOICE"Colin Reader is an established authority in Egyptology, and one of only a handful to have specialist knowledge of both geology and ancient Egypt, expertise now distilled into this very readable volume."—Chris Naunton, author of Egyptologists' Notebooks“Colin Reader’s guide to all things geological in Egypt is the perfect handbook for the interested lay reader. Colin takes us from the vast swaths of geological time, across the full range of Egyptian landscapes, to the archaeological context for the building of the pyramids and the quarrying of the unfinished obelisk. His illustrated book is a comprehensive geological companion and, with its suggested further reading, a starting point for deeper investigation.”—Judith Bunbury, University of Cambridge"In this book, Colin Reader skillfully combines his long-standing and scholarly interest in Egyptology with his professional career as a geologist. The result is an accessible, engaging, and up-to-date account of Egypt’s natural landscape and how it came to support the ancient Egyptians’ civilization. This work also successfully demonstrates how events taking place over millions of years are connected to the modern, built environment with which we are familiar today. In this way, A Gift of Geology takes the reader on a deeper exploration of ancient Egypt, encouraging us to think not only in dynasties and periods, but also in eras and eons."—Glenn Godenho, University of LiverpoolTable of ContentsList of FiguresIntroductionChapter 1 The Egyptian LandscapeChapter 2 An Introduction to GeologyChapter 3 The Geology of Egypt Part 1- The Pre-CambrianChapter 4 The Geology of Egypt Part 2 – The Palaeozoic and MesozoicChapter 5 The Geology of Egypt Part 3 – The Cenozoic: a land of riversChapter 6 The Evolution of the River NileChapter 7 The Eastern DesertChapter 8 The Western Desert Part 1Chapter 9 The Western Desert Part 2Chapter 10 Mining and Quarrying.Chapter 11 Building in Stone in Ancient EgyptChapter 12 The Interaction of Monuments and LandscapeChapter 13 A Gift of GeologyFurther Reading

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Book SynopsisOne of the most prosperous and influential dynasties of the Muslim world, the Fatimids (909–1171) were distinguished by their Imam-caliphs, who asserted religious as well as political authority in direct descent from the family of the Prophet. Their conquest of Egypt in 969 marked the inception of a burgeoning Mediterranean empire. From there, they refined their systems of administration, judiciary, and governance, instilling principles of inclusion which contributed to stability during their caliphate. Fatimid Cairo flourished as a vibrant cultural and intellectual centre through patronage of the arts, architecture, and scholarship. This book continues the story of the Fatimids from their newly founded capital of Cairo. Introducing the figures who moulded the empire, Shainool Jiwa charts the Fatimids’ expansion, the reasons behind their ultimate fall by the hand of Saladin, and the legacy that continues with the living Ismaili communities today. This lively and engaging work, including maps and colour images, draws on a broad range of primary sources to lead readers through two centuries that witnessed the triumphs and trials of the only sustained Shi’i caliphate to rule across the medieval Islamic world.Trade ReviewPithy, comprehensive and clearly expressed, this book brings together diverse strands of Fatimid cultural, religious and political history in a cohesive account. Books that speak to both general readers and experts are rare in academia. In achieving this feat with erudition and aplomb, Jiwa’s book is an invaluable addition to the library of Fatimid studies. * Dr Fozia Bora, University of Leeds, UK *Having founded Cairo in 969, the Fatimids inaugurated an age marked by tolerance as well as brilliance in artistic and learning patronage. Dealing with the vicissitudes of the Fatimids and their empire, this book covers a lot of ground in a succinct, accessible way without compromising on academic rigour. * Dr Delia Cortese, Middlesex University, UK *This is an accessible volume from a leading scholar in the field of Fatimid studies. Based on primary sources research and including images and maps that will help readers understand the two centuries of Fatimid presence in Egypt, alongside The Fatimids 1. The Rise of a Muslim Empire, it forms a two-volume complete history of the only sustained Mediterranean Shi‘i caliphate * Prof Ayman Fuad Sayyid, al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt *The book was difficult to put down … The author has woven a clear yet complex tapestry of fascinating human stories drawing upon political and religious, as well as cultural history, that engagingly reveal the quality and range of the intellectual and artistic patronage extended by these rulers in creating the cultural wonder that was the Fatimid Empire. * Raj Isar, Aga Khan Trust for Culture *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: The Arrival of the Fatimids in Egypt Chapter Two: The Cosmopolitanism of Empire Chapter Three: The Pillars of Justice and Law Chapter Four: Public Life and Learning in Cairo Chapter Five: The Empire of the Seas Chapter Six: Fluctuations of Fatimid Rule Chapter Seven: The Heirs of Empire Conclusion: Glimpses of the Fatimid Legacy

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Book SynopsisAt an auction in Edinburgh in 2010, the sale of an old walking stick belonging to a British officer, Captain Gill, shed new light on one of the mysterious crimes of the Victorian era. Captain William Gill and his companions, the noted Arabist Professor Edward Palmer of Cambridge University and a young naval lieutenant, Harold Charrington, were killed in an ambush by Bedouin in the Sinai Desert in 1883. The trio had been tasked with informal diplomacy in the region, specifically to prevent the Arab sheikhs from joining the Egyptian rebels and to secure their non-interference with the Suez Canal. The gruesome murders shocked late-Victorian Britain, and led to pressure from the Queen, Parliament and the Press for the British government to launch a manhunt for the killers in a vast desert area with mountainous terrain. This book traces the story behind the murder of the three men, uncovering the reason for their journey to the desert, the story of the murder itself and the backlash home in England. It shines light on a fascinating, forgotten crime, as well as on early intelligence operations in the Middle East.

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Book SynopsisA poignant testament to the city shattered by Syria's civil war. Aleppo lies in ruins, a casualty of Syria's brutal civil war. Its streets are cloaked in darkness, its population scattered, its memories ravaged. But this was once a vibrant world city, where Muslims, Christians and Jews lived and traded together in peace. Few places are as ancient and diverse. At the crossroads of global trade, Aleppo drew merchants from Venice, Isfahan and Agra to the largest souq in the Middle East and it was from here that some of the world's most enduring food, music and culture sprang.Trade Review`Philip Mansel, our greatest authority on the civilisation of the Levant, has written a characteristically concise and elegant elegy to one of the oldest, grandest, and most cosmopolitan cities of the region. As tragic as it is timely, this book succeeds magnificently in showing why we should mourn the fall of Aleppo, a city "which challenged categories and generalisations," and which was in many ways the last great Ottoman city to survive the twin ravages of modern nationalism and fundamentalism.’ -William Dalrymple, “A compelling portrait of one of the Middle East’s greatest cities, by one of the finest modern historians of the Levant. Mansel’s Aleppo reminds modern readers of the loss to world heritage inflicted by Syria’s tragic civil war. An important and outstanding book.’ - Eugene Rogan, author of The Arabs and The Fall of the Ottomans, Director of the Middle East Centre at St Antony's College, University of Oxford, "Mansel is a profoundly civilised and civilising historian who has spent many years in the Levant. Elegant and elegaic, 'Aleppo' is a precious monument to a once-splendid city that has been reduced to abject ruin and misery. How did this once-celebrated city come to plumb such depths? It is a question Philip Mansel's remarkable new history implcity seeks to answer" - Justin Marozzi, Spectator, 'Mansel gives us his ownThis book will stand as a eulogy for the city.' - Anthony Sattin, Literary Review, 'A tragic lament... Let us hope that Aleppo will benefit from this labour of love and fluent scholarship... This book helps to keep alive the colour of the souks, the clamour of the Khans and the songs of the cafes.' - Barnaby Rogerson, Country Life, "Shows the enormous weight and wonder of the city and stands in humbling contrast to the easy destruction that marks the city today… lets the reader visit Aleppo through the eyes of visiting travellers." - Banipal Magazine, "Fascinating… Mansel's breadth of knowledge enhances the book." - Andrew Cunningham, Arab Banker Magazine

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Book SynopsisTHE TRUE STORY THAT INSPIRED THE NETFLIX FILM THE RED SEA DIVING RESORT. 'Secret missions, brazen deceptions and thrilling, clandestine operations - Red Sea Spies has it all. But it has something more important, too - a genuine human mission that made a difference.' David Hoffman, author of The Billion Dollar Spy'[A] thrilling and meticulous account.' The TimesIn the early 1980s on a remote part of the Sudanese coast, a new luxury holiday resort opened for business. Catering for divers, it attracted guests from around the world. Little did the holidaymakers know that the staff were undercover spies, working for the Mossad - the Israeli secret service. Providing a front for covert night-time activities, the holiday village allowed the agents to carry out an operation unlike any seen before. What began with one cryptic message pleading for help, turned into the secret evacuation of thousands of Ethiopian Jews who had been languishing in refugee camps, and the spiriting of them to Israel. Written in collaboration with operatives involved in the mission, endorsed as the definitive account and including an afterword from the commander who went on to become the head of the Mossad, this is the complete, never-before-heard, gripping tale of a top-secret and often hazardous operation.'Red Sea Spies is what really happened. There is none of the Hollywood colouring-in, and yet the book is all the more vivid for it ... part thriller, part dark comedy, all true ... Berg brings out the native drama in an improbable story of a clandestine homecoming.' SpectatorTrade ReviewRaffi Berg has, for the first time, managed to accomplish the herculean task of rendering a complex, manifold, full of human diversity story into a credible, readable, dynamic, passionate and well-documented book. -- Dani * Operation Commander *The true and most accurate story of the Mossad's Ethiopian Jewish rescue operation in Sudan over a period of around a decade has found a gifted and worthy author who deserves high praise for his monumental effort in unearthing so many key aspects that have never been publicly revealed till now. -- Efraim Halevy, Head of the Mossad 1998-2002, from his AfterwordSecret missions, brazen deceptions and thrilling, clandestine operations - Red Sea Spies has it all. But it has something more important, too - a genuine human mission that made a difference. -- David Hoffman, author of The Billion Dollar SpyRed Sea Spies is what really happened. There is none of the Hollywood colouring-in, and yet the book is all the more vivid for it ... part thriller, part dark comedy, all true ... Berg brings out the native drama in an improbable story of a clandestine homecoming. * The Spectator *An amazing story of the dogged behind-the-scenes workings of the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency, from the late 1970s to the '90s ... From the first secret airlift until 1991, writes the author, who includes helpful maps and a list of the significant characters, 28,695 Ethiopian Jews were transported to Israel, "about 80 percent of their entire community." Berg's account of the operation - remarkable due to its duration, execution, and success - reads like a spy novel. * Kirkus *[A] thrilling and meticulous account. * The Times *[An] outstanding debut ... Berg's moving, well-researched book stands as the definitive account of this heroic rescue mission. It deserves a wide readership. * Publishers Weekly *A compelling portrayal ... providing a startling amount of detail of the day-to-day activities - putting the reader right there in the sand with the Mossad agents. * Jewish Chronicle *A tense and extraordinary story. * Choice *A book which should be on every Jewish bookshelf -- Rabbi Michael Laitner, Educational Director, United Synagogue

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Book SynopsisGertrude Bell's fascinating account of a lifetime of travel and a lifelong enchantment of Persia. 'Are we the same, I wonder, when all our surroundings, association, acquaintances are changed? I conclude that it is not the person who danced with you at Mansfield St who writes to you today from Persia. Yet there are dregs, English sediment at the bottom of my sherbet, and perhaps they flavour it more than I think. I write to you of Persia: I am not me, that is my only excuse. I am merely pouring out for you some of what I have received in the last two months.' When Gertrude Bell's uncle was appointed Minister in Tehran in 1891, she declared that the great ambition of her life was to visit Persia. Several months later, she did. And so began a lifetime of travel and a lifelong enchantment with what she saw as the romance of the East, which evolved into a deep understanding of its cultures and people. This vivid and impressionistic series of sketches, her first foray into writing, is an evocative meditation that moves between Persia's heroic past and its long decline; the public face of Tehran and the otherworldly 'secret, mysterious life of the East', the lives of its women, its lush, enclosed gardens; from the bustling cities to the lonely wastelands of Khorasan.Trade ReviewIn British diplomatic group photographs of the early twentiethcentury Middle East, amid the plumes and uniforms and the calm paraphernalia of an empire going to hell in a bucket, there is often a solitary female. The woman is slim, with a head of luxuriant hair, and neatly dressed in billowing muslins or in the pencil silhouette and cloche hats of jazz-age Baghdad. The woman is Gertrude Bell. -- James Buchan * The Guardian *Her remarkable intellectual abilities and masculine demeanour make Persian Pictures, her first publication on an Eastern subject, all the more interesting. -- Geoffrey NashTable of ContentsPreface 1. An Eastern City 2. The Tower of Silence 3. In Praise of Gardens 4. The King of Merchants 5. The Imam Hussein 6. The Shadow of Death 7. Dwellers in Tents 8. Three Noble Ladies 9. The Treasure of the King 10. Sheikh Hassan 11. A Persian Host 12. A Stage and a Half 13. A Bridle- Path 14. Two Palaces 15. The Month of Fasting 16. Requiescant in Pace 17. The City of King Prusias 18. Shops and Shopkeepers 19. A Murray of the First Century 20. Travelling Companions

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Book SynopsisThe end of the 3rd millennium was a time of significant transformation in south-east Arabia (the United Arab Emirates and northern Oman). The cultural homogeneity of the preceding Early Bronze Age, Umm an-Nar period (c. 2700–2000 BC) came to an end and gave way to the Middle Bronze Age, Wadi Suq period (2000–1600 BC). Settlements changed, and possibly began to decline in size and number, the economy changed for many and the important trade in copper ore seems to have declined. In addition, there was a marked change in funerary practices as new types of tombs appeared – both collective and individual burials. All of this took place within the context of a climatic shift that led to a decline in rainfall across many parts of the region. Much of the countryside of south-eastern Iran was abandoned and the urban period of the Indus Valley was weakening. In the midst of this turmoil, the limited agricultural plains of northern Ras al-Khaimah appear to have developed into an island where there was greater continuity than elsewhere. This book reports on the excavation of a number of monumental collective tombs that were built there and used through the early part of the 2nd millennium. The way that they were constructed and used as well as the burial goods that they contain throw light on the population of this area, and give some indication of how and why it was that life continued in this small pocket in a way that was different to surrounding regions.Table of Contents1. Introduction Derek Kennet 2. The Site and Environment Derek Kennet 3. The Excavations Derek Kennet 4. Beads Anna Hilton 5. Small Finds Anna Hilton 6. Softstone Anna Hilton 7. Metalwork Lloyd Weeks et al. 8. Human Bone Alyson Caine 9. Isotopes Janet Montgomery et al. 10. Marine Shell Hannah Russ 11. Animal Bone Cameron Smith 12. Conservation Dana Goodburn-Brown 13. Phasing and Site Interpretation Derek Kennet, Christian Velde and Michel de Vreeze 14. The Wadi Suq Period in Northern Ras al-Khaimah Derek Kennet and Christian Velde 15. The Umm an-Nar/Wadi Suq Transition Derek Kennet Appendices

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Book SynopsisExperiencing a city without knowing the history is like watching a blockbuster movie without a story – all sets and visuals, but devoid of dialogue, plot, and drama. We are travelling more than ever, but the story telling has not kept up. An amazing city like Istanbul becomes just another mosque, another palace and yet another sultan. This book aims to bring to life the stories behind the locations. Each story is accompanied by a lesson that can be applied to our lives. Why does a chain hang over the entrance to the Blue Mosque? Why do the chandeliers of Grand Mosques often have an ostrich egg at their centre? Who was Fatih and what made him special? This is a guidebook that prioritises the history of the locations and lessons we can learn from the past. If you want to experience Istanbul in a way that is a feast for the heart and mind as much as it is for the eyes and stomach, read on.

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Book SynopsisThe 8th century heralded the start of a golden age in the history of the Islamic world. At this time, the Sunni Muslim 'Abbãsid Caliphate, with its capital at Baghdad, ruled virtually the entire Islamic world. Islamic military power peaked in the 9th century, but by the end of this golden age in the 11th century, the 'Abbãsid Caliphs had little political and virtually no military power. Featuring numerous photographs of artefacts and eight full colour plates by Graham Turner, David Nicolle's book examines the recruitment, organization, weaponry and uniforms of the armies of the Caliphates from 862-1098.Table of ContentsIntroduction · Heartlands and Frontiers · Recruitment · Organisation · Weaponry · Costume and Uniforms · Tactics · Naval Warfare · Africa · Further Reading · The Plates

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Book SynopsisThis book brings the forgotten pages of history back to passionate life. Doreen Ingrams has sieved through secret cabinet documents, Foreign and War office memorandum and their cryptic annotations to observe the creation of a Zionist homeland out of the Palestine Protectorate. Cock-up or conspiracy? Judge Curzon, Churchill, Weizmann, Blafour, TE Lawrence by their own words.

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Book SynopsisOn Resistanceis the result of a two-year journey by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Ahmad Al-Bazz, documenting hundreds of depopulated Palestinian villages. With over 75 large, detailed colour photographs, it offers a powerful visual and historical record of the destruction and displacement that shaped Israel's creation.

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Book SynopsisThis book explains the historical roots of the conflict between Jews and Arabs, which has lost none of its explosiveness to the present day, in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner. The question of who owns the Holy Land is more relevant today than ever. The debates on this topic are often characterized by ignorance and strong emotions, while partiality and power interests still obscure the view on the political situation in the Middle East. Shaking up old myths and prejudices, this book presents an overall historical as well as political analysis of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim structures, actors, and actions from the very beginning to this very day, as well as a topical analysis. It combines history with theology and political science. Thus, the book is a must-read for scholars and students of political science, history, and international relations, as well as policy-makers, interested in a better understanding of the historical background and current political situation in the Middle East. Table of ContentsHoly Land? Israel? Palestine?.- RELIGIOSITY AND POLITICS.- The Pious, the Zealous and a "Dead" God.- Fundamentalism - A Shield for the Culture?.- Is Zionism Blasphemy?.- Zionism in the Quran?.- THE HOLY LAND, RELIGIONS AND POLITICS.- What Is the Holy Land? - Biblical Borders?.- Why Is the Land Holy?.- To Whom Is the Land Holy?.- Where Is the Land Holy? Or: To Whom Does Jerusalem Belong?.- How Is the Land Holy? Or: Holiness and Statehood.- By What Means Is the Land Acquired?.- THE HISTORY OF CHANGING OWNERSHIP.-Whose Possession? Whose Property?.-Names and Power.- The Patriarch Fathers.- Jewish Settlement as “Conquest”.- Kingdom and Kingdoms Come and Go.- Exile, Return and Autonomy.- The Europeanization of the Holy Land.- Christians as Heirs and Owners.- Re-Orientalisation - Arabisation, Turkification.- Re-Europeanization.- The Return of Islam.- The Return to Zion.- The British in the Holy Land.- The Founding of Israel -- Palestine Becomes Jordan.- “Greater Israel” -- Jewish or Democratic? Of Federations and Confederation.- Injustice for Injustice – Conclusion – Solution?.

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Book SynopsisAncient Egyptian medicine employed advanced surgical practices, while the prevention and treatment of diseases relied mostly on natural remedies and magical incantations. In the first of three volumes, The Medicine of the Ancient Egyptians explores these two different aspects, using textual sources and physical evidence to cast light on the state of ancient medical knowledge and practice and the hardships of everyday life experienced by the inhabitants of the land on the Nile. The first part of the book focuses on ancient Egyptian surgery, drawing mainly on cases described in the Edwin Smith papyrus, which details a number of injuries listed by type and severity. These demonstrate the rational approach employed by ancient physicians in the treatment of injured patients. Additional surgical cases are drawn from the Ebers papyrus. The chapters that follow cover gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatric cases, with translations from the Kahun gynecological papyrus and other medical texts, illustrating a wide range of ailments that women and young children suffered in antiquity, and how they were treated. Illustrated with more than sixty photographs and line drawings, The Medicine of the Ancient Egyptians is highly recommended reading for scholars of ancient Egyptian medicine and magic, as well as for paleopathologists, medical historians, and physical anthropologists.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgement 1 THE WISDOM OF THE AGES (E. Strouhal) 1.1 The Texts – Key to Ancient Egyptian Medicine 1.2 Selection of monographs on Ancient Egyptian medicine 1.3 The ‘Ancient Egyptian Medicine’ Programme 2 PAPYRUS SCROLLS OF THE EGYPTIAN PHYSICIANS (H. Vymazalová) 2.1 Kahun Papyrus 2.2 Ramesseum Papyri 2.3 Edwin Smith Papyrus 2.4 Ebers Papyrus 2.5 Hearst Papyrus 2.6 London Papyrus BM 10059 2.7 Papyrus Carlsberg VIII 2.8 Papyrus Berlin 3038 2.9 Chester Beatty Papyri 2.10 Book for Mother and Child (Papyrus Berlin 3027) 3 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SURGERY (B. Vachala, E. Strouhal) 3.1 Medical Texts Dealing with Surgery (B. Vachala) 3.2 The Ingredients of the Remedies for Surgical Treatment (H. Vymazalová) 3.2.1 The Ingredients of Mineral Origin 3.2.2 The Ingredients of Herbal Origin 3.2.3 The Ingredients of Animal Origin 3.3 Translation of the Surgical Cases (B. Vachala) 3.3.1 Edwin Smith Papyrus 3.3.2 Ebers Papyrus 3.4 Surgical Treatment of Injuries and Other Illnesses (E. Strouhal) 3.4.1 Injuries of the Cranial Vault 3.4.2 Injuries of the Forehead 3.4.3 Injuries of the Nose 3.4.4 Injuries of the Face 3.4.5 Injuries of the Temporal Bones 3.4.6 Injuries of the Ear 3.4.7 Injuries of the Lower Jaw 3.4.8 Injuries of the Lip 3.4.9 Injuries of the Chin 3.4.10 Injuries of the Throat 3.4.11 Injuries of the Cervical Vertebrae 3.4.12 Injuries of the Collar Bones 3.4.13 Injuries of the Humerus 3.4.14 Diseases of the Chest 3.4.15 Injuries of the Shoulders and Back 3.5 Treatment with a Knife and Glowing Stick (E. Strouhal) 3.5.1 Benign Tumours 3.5.2 A Cyst in the Hair 3.5.3 Inflamed Bulges 3.5.4 Umbilical Hernia 3.5.5 A Bulge Caused by Subcutaneous Bleeding 3.5.6 A Bulge Caused by a Parasitic Cyst 3.5.7 A Bulge Caused by Fluid in the Abdominal Cavity 3.5.8 Bulges of Uncertain Origins 3.6 Operators and their Treatments (E. Strouhal) 3.6.1 The Questions of the Existence of Specialised Surgeons 3.6.2 Examination of the Patient to Determine a Diagnosis and Prognosis 3.6.3 Surgical Instruments and Aids 3.6.4 Pain Relief 3.6.5 Evidence of Surgical Operations 4 MOTHER AND CHILD CARE (H. Vymazalová, E. Strouhal) 4.1 Medical Texts Concerning Women and Children (H. Vymazalová) …109 4.2 The Ingredients of Medicinal Preparations for Women and Children (H. Vymazalová) 4.2.1 Units 4.2.2 Ingredients from the Kitchen 4.2.3 Ingredients of Mineral Origin 4.2.4 Ingredients of Herbal Origin 4.2.5 Ingredients of Animal Origin 4.2.6 Sundry Other Ingredients 4.3 Translation of the Texts (H. Vymazalová) 4.3.1 Kahun Papyrus 4.3.2 Papyri from Ramesseum 4.3.3 Edwin Smith Papyrus 4.3.4 Ebers Papyrus 4.3.5 London Papyrus (BM 10059) 4.3.6 Papyrus Carlsberg VIII 4.3.7 Papyrus Berlin 3038 4.3.8 Book for Mother and Child (Papyrus Berlin 3027) 4.4 Medicine and Women (H. Vymazalová, E. Strouhal) 4.4.1 Pains 4.4.2 Fever and Swellings 4.4.3 Bleeding and Menstruation 4.4.4 Urinary Problems 4.4.5 Other Women’s Problems 4.4.6 Support of Conception 4.4.7 Prevention of Conception 4.4.8 Tests of Fertility and Pregnancy 4.4.9 Pregnancy 4.4.10 Childbirth 4.4.11 Post-Natal Care of the Mother 4.4.12 Breasts 4.5 Care for Children (H. Vymazalová, E. Strouhal) 4.5.1 Tests of the Viability of a Newborn 4.5.2 Breastfeeding and Breast Milk 4.5.3 Children’s Diseases 4.5.4 Problems with Urination and Defecation Summary Brief Overview of the History of Ancient Egypt Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIt is now more than seventy years since the creation of the state of Israel, yet its origins and the British Empire''s historic responsibility for Palestine remain little known. Confusion persists too as to the distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. In Legacy of Empire, Gardner Thompson offers a clear-eyed review of political Zionism and Britain''s role in shaping the history of Palestine and Israel. Thompson explores why the British government adopted Zionism in the early twentieth century, issuing the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and then retaining it as the cornerstone of their rule in Palestine after the First World War. Despite evidence and warnings, over the next two decades Britain would facilitate the colonisation of Arab Palestine by Jewish immigrants, ultimately leading to a conflict which it could not contain. Britain''s response was to propose the partition of an ungovernable land: a ''two-state solution'' which - though endorsed by the United Nations after the Trade Review'Illuminating ... an essential primer on the historical roots of the Israel/Palestine conflict.' Nicholas Rankin 'A sobering and engrossing story of Britain's betrayal of the Palestinians from the Balfour Declaration to the present day.' Avi Shlaim 'An incisive and thorough analysis.' Ilan Pappe 'A persuasive, if provocative, analysis ... a welcome addition to existing literature on this subject.' Jewish Renaissance 'A compelling new study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ... meticulously researched.' The Tablet 'An excellent, well-researched and timely book.' Nur Masalha 'Thompson examines how the settler-colonial Zionist project in Palestine is intertwined with the designs of imperial Britain. That such an issue can still be disputed is testimony to the power of ideology: Legacy of Empire cuts through the noise to show what really happened.' Gilbert Achcar 'Useful, accessible and very welcome' Socialist Worker 'An eloquent account ... Thompson has brought an unbiased historian's eye to this inexplicable chapter of British and imperial history.' Tim Llewellyn, former BBC Middle East Correspondent 'Clearly situated within the contemporary debates in Britain' Fathom Journal 'Legacy of Empire documents how this strange brew of ideologies and bigotry led to the denial of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.' Electronic Intifada 'I hope that this book may contribute to the global struggle against all forms of racism by giving strength to those who are seeking realistic and fair solutions to the political problems in Israeli and Palestinian relations' Scottish Left Review 'Should be required reading by all those who seek to pronounce on this problematic subject.' Socialist HistoryTable of ContentsMaps Acknowledgements Timeline Introduction Chapter 1: The Birth and Emergence of Zionism, 1897-1914 Chapter 2: Zionism In 1914 Chapter 3: The British Adoption of Zionism, 1914-1917 Chapter 4: The British Commitment To Zionism In Palestine, 1918-1922 Chapter 5: Palestine In 1922 Chapter 6: Zionism And Britain In Palestine, 1922-1937 Postscript 1937-1947 Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The single most significant event in the publication history of the scholarship on Wahhābism—period. There’s no book that rivals it . . . in scope, erudition, and breadth. . . . It's one of these books that will set the agenda for future scholarship."---Omar Anchassi, Islamicate Book Review"The amount of primary sources and manuscripts referenced in Cole Bunzel's new book is dizzying in the best way possible. The new standard for literature on Wahhabism! . . . A must read book."---Aaron Y. Zelin, Brandeis University"Groundbreaking. . . . It is essential that [Wahhābism] reaches as wide an audience as possible."---John McHugo, History Today"Remarkably detailed, robust, and cohesive. . . . this is a worthwhile read for anyone with an interest in either Islamic history and/or the lasting impact of Wahhābism."---Troy E. Spier, Reading Religion

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Book SynopsisAnalyses the myths -- religious and cultural -- that are used to justify the aggressive expansionist policies of Israel.Trade Review'An impressive work of deconstruction with many crucial new insights and written in such an accessible way, despite the very complicated issues with which the author deals' -- Ilan PappeTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. ‘The Bible is our Mandate’ 2. ‘The Distinguishing Characteristic of the Jews has been their Exile’ 3. ‘…Eighteen Centuries of Jewish Suffering’ 4. ‘Us’ Jews ‘Them’ Arabs: A Message from a Cairo synagogue, a thousand years ago 5. ‘A land without people ... 6. …for a people without land’ 7. Plucky Little Israel or Great Power Protégé?: Britain & the Zionist colony in Palestine 8. ‘The Nazi Holocaust proved the urgency for a Jewish State’ 9. Plucky Little Israel or Great Power Protégé?: How Israel Became a Strategic Asset for the United States 10. ‘Us Jews Them Arabs’: The Lost Jewish Arab symbiosis - in search of the ‘spark of hope in the past’ Conclusion ‘Out of the Ashes’ Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWith the rise of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE), Persian institutions of kingship became the model for legitimacy, authority, and prestige across three continents. Despite enormous upheavals, Iranian visual and political cultures connected an ever-wider swath of Afro-Eurasia over the next two millennia, exerting influence at key historical junctures. This book provides the first critical exploration of the role that Persian cultures played in articulating the myriad ways power was expressed across Afro-Eurasia between the sixth century BCE and the nineteenth century CE. Exploring topics such as royal cosmologies, fashion, banqueting, manuscript cultures, sacred landscapes, and inscriptions, the volume’s essays analyze the intellectual and political exchanges of art, architecture, ritual, and luxury material within and beyond the Persian world. They show how Perso-Iranian cultures offered neighbors and competitors raw material with which to formulate their own imperial aspirations. Unique among studies of Persia and Iran, this volume explores issues of change, renovation, and interconnectivity in these cultures over the longue duréeTable of ContentsToward a New Transmillennial Understanding of Perso-Iranian Visual, Material, and Political Cultures and Their Global Impact - Matthew P. Canepa Trilingual Inscriptions: Translating Language and Culture - Rachel Mairs “Position and Honor”: Iranian Sartorial and Commensal Politics and the Transformation of the Afro-Eurasian Sensorium of Power - Matthew P. Canepa Giganticism and Bamiyan: Türk, Iranian, and Chinese Traditions of Dynasticism - Warwick Ball Buried with a Silver Spoon? Sasanian and East Roman (Byzantine) Objects in Dialogue in Central Asia and the Caucasus - Stefan R. Hauser Between Alexander and Byzantium: Notions and Concepts of the “West” in Central Asia (First Century BCE–Eighth Century CE) - Sören Stark and Lauren Morris Beyond Space and Time: Sino-Iranian Textiles and the Creation of a Eurasian Material and Visual Culture - Mariachiara Gasparini From the Ground Up: Perso-Islamic Kingship in Southern Asia - Alka Patel Shifting Power, Displaced Artists: On the Circulation, Transformation, and Emulation of Persianate Manuscripts (1300–1600) - Lamia Balafrej How Persianate Is It? Imitation and Refraction in a Sixteenth-Century Cosmography from India - Vivek Gupta Early Meetings between Parsi Merchant Princes and Boston Brahmins - Jenny Rose

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Book SynopsisAt a time when a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis seems virtually unattainable, understanding the roots of the longest-running conflict in the Middle East is an essential step in restoring hope to the region. In The Iron Cage, Rashid Khalidi, one of the most respected historians and political observers of the Middle East, examines the Palestinian’s struggle for statehood, presenting a succinct and insightful history of the people and their leadership throughout the twentieth century. Ranging from the Palestinian struggle against colonial rule and the establishment of the State of Israel to the current rivalry between Hamas and Fatah, this is an unflinching and sobering critique of the Palestinian failure to achieve statehood, as well as a balanced account of the odds ranged against them. Lucid yet challenging, Rashid Khalidi’s engrossing narrative of this tortuous history is required reading for anyone concerned about peace in the Middle East.Trade Review"A work of forceful historical analysis written in a spirit of self-examination . . . 'The Iron Cage' compels us to reflect more deeply on the problems that continue to bedevil the Palistinain movement." * The Nation *"the book will delight everyone sick to death of following the minutiae of the "peace process" and the inevitable apportioning of blame for its failure. Equally, it is a godsend for those new to the subject, as it presents a strong analysis within a frameworkd that is comparable across colonized peoples." * International History Review *"'The Iron Cage' is a patient and eloquent work, ranging over the whole of modern Palestinian history from World War I to the death of Yasser Arafat. Reorienting the Palestinain narrative around the attitudes and tactics of the Palestinians themselves, Khalidi lends a remarkable illumination to a story so wearily familiar it is often hard to believe anything new can be found within." Jonathan Shainin * Salon *"Khalidi asks crucial questions regarding the state of Palestinian identity and viability that no other historians or political analysts have covered with such depth." Alejandra Ju * Political Affairs *"Khalidi's book is no exercise in victimology. He is tough on the British, the Israelis, and the Americans, but she is scarcely less hard-hitting in appraising the Palestinians. The final chapter provides an excellent critique of the Palestine Liberation Organization's labored moves toward the recognition of Israel and the idea, increasingly bruited, that a two-state solution is no longer feasible." L. Carl Brown * Foreign Affairs *"A must-read historical and political study of the national Palestinian movement . . . Supporters of the Palestinians and of Israel will read this book in different ways and with different eyes, but both will find Khalidi's presentation richly illuminating." Neil Caplan * The Middle East Journal *"[Khalidi's] most accomplished effort to date . . . Magesterial in scope, meticulous in its attention to detail, and decidedly dispassionate in its analysis, 'The Iron Cage' is destined to be a benchmark of its genre." Joel Schalit * Tikkun *"A first-rate and up-to-date historical and political analaysis of the Palestinian predicament." * Publishers Weekly *"A lucid and compelling examination of the Palestinian dilemma by 'arguably the foremost US historian of the modern Middle East'." Warren I. Cohen * Los Angeles Times Book Review *"Khalidi, tackling ‘historical amnesia,’ brilliantly analyses the structural handicap which hobbled the Palestinians throughout 30 years of British rule . . . Khalidi restores the Palestinians to something more than victims, acknowledging that for all their disadvantages, they have played their role and can (and must) still do so to determine their own fate." * The Guardian *"Khalid [has] done much to provide a Palestinian narrative rooted in personal histories but disciplined by the standards of Western scholarship." * The New York Times *"Khalidi, tackling ‘historical amnesia,’ brilliantly analyses the structural handicap which hobbled the Palestinians throughout 30 years of British rule . . . restor[ing] the Palestinians to something more than victims." * The Guardian *"Khalidi [has] done much to provide a Palestinian narrative rooted in personal histories but disciplined by the standards of Western scholarship." * The New York Times *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Writing Middle Eastern History in a Time of Historical Amnesia 1. Arab Society in Mandatory Palestine 2. The Palestinians and the British Mandate 3. A Failure of Leadership 4. The Revolt, 1948, and Afterwards 5. Fateh, the PLO, and the PA: The Palestinian Para-State 6. Stateless in Palestine

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Book SynopsisCompelling account of a legendary Palestinian resistance fighter: from refugee camp to international infamyTrade ReviewA nuanced historical biography based on thorough historical research together with extensive interviews with Leila Khaled and those close to her'A fine portrayal of a compelling and mysterious figure from a tumultuous period in Palestinian history, mixing biography and historical critique to deliver a valuable insight into Leila Khaled's character as well as her extraordinary appeal as a revolutionary icon' -- Nicholas Blincoe, co-editor of Peace Under Fire: Israel/Palestine and the International Solidarity MovementA readable and accessibly written book, packing an impressive amount of material into less than 150 pages, and is a rare resource for those who want to know more about the life of this fascinating and complex Palestinian icon.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Haifa, Lebanon, Kuwait 2. Leila The Fighter 3. Black September 4. Marriage And Death 5. Revolutionary Women 6. Moving To Jordan And Returning To Palestine 7. Leila Khaled In The Future, Palestine In The Future References Index

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Book SynopsisAn essential guide to the tanks that fought the greatest armored clashes of modern times, between Saddam Hussein''s Soviet-supplied army and the advanced tanks fielded by the Coalition.The Gulf War of 1991 was the largest tank-vs-tank confrontation of the modern era, and the only large-scale tank combat ever to involve major NATO armies. With the Iraqi Army equipped primarily with modern Soviet- and Warsaw Pact-built tanks, it was also a rare example of how NATO tanks performed in combat against their Eastern Bloc rivals.In this book, world expert on tank technology Steven J. Zaloga examines the numerous tank types used in this conflict and how they compared, both in technology and battlefield performance. Besides covering the tanks of the United States, Britain, and France, it also examines those of other Allied forces including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It not only covers Iraq''s Soviet- and Warsaw Pact-built tanks, but also its vigorous indigenous military industry, which produced a number of notable innovations such as the Enigma tank with laminate armor. Unravelling the detail behind the greatest tank war of modern times, packed with data and illustrated with superb new artwork and numerous photos, including some never-before-published, and detailed descriptions of the little-known Iraqi armored division markings.

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Book SynopsisHamas won an overwhelming electoral victory in January 2006, overturning many assumptions regionally and globally. Branded as terrorist by Israel and the West, it is the largest Palestinian militant Islamist organization, formed fifteen years ago at the beginning of the first intifada. Its short-term objective is to drive Israeli forces from the West Bank and Gaza, an aim it hopes to realize through attacks on Israeli troops and settlers in the Occupied Territories and - more controversially - civilians. It also has the long-term aim of establishing an Islamic state on all of historic Palestine. In the post-Oslo world, Hamas gained power and influence as Israel steadily destroyed the power structure of the avowedly secular Yasser Arafat and his Palestinian Authority. A grass-roots organization that commands wide respect among Palestinians for its incorruptibility, Hamas is divided into two main sections, one responsible for establishing schools, hospitals and religious institutions, the other for military action and terror attacks carried out by its armed underground wing the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades. This book charts the origins of Hamas among the Muslim Brotherhood, details the influence of its exiled leadership in Syria and elsewhere, and sets out its internal structure and political objectives. This new edition includes an additional chapter covering events since the book's original publication in November 2006.Trade ReviewThis is an important book, and I encourage both Israelis and diaspora Jews to read it. -- Gabrielle Rifkind, Specialist in Conflict Resolution and Human SecurityAn excellent history, deeply researched, the story is dramatic, and Tamimi tells it well... gives access to fascinating detail. -- Victoria Brittain * Palestine News *In this trenchant history spanning from the first days of the 1987 intifada to the sweeping democratic victory of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Palestinian elections of January 2006, London-based scholar Tamimi argues that seeing Hamas as merely another face of Al Qaeda obscures more than it elucidates. A successor to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas comes out of a transnational Islamic reform movement that grew among Palestinians in the 1970s, largely in reaction to Arab nationalism's failure to champion the Palestinian cause. Increasingly, against a string of failed peace processes and the corruption and concessions of the PLO-led secular leadership, Hamas's popular support has rested heavily on its stance as a militant resistance movement wedded to the Palestinian dream of regaining pre-1948 Palestine, and as provider of essential social services. Tamimi draws extensively on the words of insiders in carefully charting and contextualizing the development of Hamas's highly resilient organization, shifting outlook and embrace of various tactics, including the offer of a truce with Israel and, most controversially, suicide bombing. It will be a key resource in English for any serious assessment of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. * Publishers Weekly starred review *Provides facts on Hamas' struggle in Palestine from real sources in the organisation. * Malaysian National News Agency *Tamimi's book is the most authoritative account yet published of the origins, rise and impact of Hamas. -- Abdel Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief, Al-Quds Al-Arabi

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Book SynopsisA renowned historian eludes the pitfalls of partisanship and tackles one of the world’s most perplexing and divisive issuesTrade Review"Gloomy, concise, and spot-on."—Commentary“I urge you, in the strongest terms, to read One State, Two States. . . I very much hope that it will ignite a freer, more honest, radically different conversation on the left, one informed by historical knowledge and current realities rather than the fantasies—alternately sentimental, infantile and grandiose—for which such a high price has been paid by all sides.”—Susie Linfield, TruthDig.com“Morris is one of the most authoritative historians of the Israeli-Arab conflict. In his new book, he presents and up-to-date interpretation and suggestions for its solution.”—Walter Laqueur“What is so striking about Morris’s work as a historian is that it does not flatter anyone’s prejudices, least of all his own.”—David Remnick, New Yorker"Gloomy, concise, and spot-on."—Commentary * Commentary *“I urge you, in the strongest terms, to read One State, Two States. . . I very much hope that it will ignite a freer, more honest, radically different conversation on the left, one informed by historical knowledge and current realities rather than the fantasies—alternately sentimental, infantile and grandiose—for which such a high price has been paid by all sides.”—Susie Linfield, TruthDig.com -- Susie Linfield * TruthDig.com *“Morris details the various proposals for a ‘one-state’ or ‘two-state’ solution to the conflict that should have followed the UN General Assembly division of the territory and termination of the [British Mandate]. In a final chapter, he considers correctly that neither solution is practical or realistic. The best option, he feels, would be a West Bank-Gaza-Jordan confederation with Israel. . . . Recommended.”—W. Spencer, Choice -- W. Spencer * Choice *“Morris is one of the most authoritative historians of the Israeli-Arab conflict. In his new book, he presents and up-to-date interpretation and suggestions for its solution.”—Walter Laqueur -- Walter Laqueur“What is so striking about Morris’s work as a historian is that it does not flatter anyone’s prejudices, least of all his own.”—David Remnick, New Yorker -- David Remnick * New Yorker *"A rich and persuasive account of just how deep-seated and historically rooted the antagonism is between Israelis and Palestinians."--Ira Smolensky, Magill's Literary Annual 2010 -- Ira Smolensky * Magill's Literary Annual 2010 *

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