Description
Book SynopsisThis annually updated volume of the World Today Series is designed to place in context the passionate controversies and emotional attachments of the two billion people who live, study, work, and die in the Middle East and South Asia. Despite room for optimism in some areas, many parts of the Middle East and South Asia continue to face extraordinary challenges and difficult outlooks. Much of this has to do with conflict across the region, which extends well beyond atrocities perpetrated by the Islamic State and the Assad regime in Syria.This volume depicts a region where hundreds of millions seek dignity as humans and respect from their governments. This volume helps the general reader understand recent and past developments from these countries.
Table of ContentsThe State of Democracy: Seasons of Hope and Despair Black Gold or Resource Curse? The Impact of Oil on the Middle East and Beyond An Uncertain Climate: Regional Environment Challenges The Rise and Decline of a Modern Caliphate Historical Background The Spread of Civilization The Rise and Fall of Empires Hebrews and Judaeans The Hellenistic Age, Roman Rule, and Christianity Zoroastrian, Buddhist, and Hindu Cultures Muhammad and the Rise of Islam Islamic Expansion and Society: The Arab Caliphate The Barbarian Invasions The Safavid, Ottoman, and Mogul Empires European Expansion into the Indian Ocean The Creation of the British Raj Nations of the Middle East Bahrain Egypt Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey United Arab Emirates Yemen Map 1910 Map Today Nations of South Asia Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Disputed Territories Abu Musa (Gap Sabzu) and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs British Indian Ocean Territory (the Chagos Archipelago) The Occupied Territories East Jerusalem (Arab Jerusalem) The Golan Heights (Jawlan) Jammu and Kashmir Regional Organizations Gulf Cooperation Council League of Arab States South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Selected Bibliography of Key English Language Sources
