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A Concise History of the Middle East
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Manufacturer: Westview Press
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 956
EAN: 9780813342757
ISBN: 0813342759
Label: Westview Press
Manufacturer: Westview Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 576
Publication Date: 2005-07-21
Publisher: Westview Press
Studio: Westview Press
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Editorial Reviews:
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The eighth edition of Arthur Goldschmidt’s widely acclaimed text has been extensively revised to reflect the latest scholarship and the most recent events in the Middle East. As an introduction to the history of this turbulent region from the beginnings of Islam to the present day, the book is distinguished by its clear style, broad scope, and balanced treatment. Written for undergraduate college students, the text assumes no prior knowledge of Middle Eastern history. It focuses on the evolution of Islamic institutions and culture, the influence of the West, the modernization efforts of Middle Eastern governments, the struggle of various peoples for political independence, the course of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the reassertion of Islamic values and power, the aftermath of the Gulf War, and issues surrounding the Palestinian Question. The eighth edition brings new discussion to the post-9/11 political developments and surveys terrorism in the Middle East, the Iraq War, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great overview of middle eastern history.
Comment: I took a middle eastern history class this past semester and we used this as our text. It was very well written and easily readable. This covers the time of Muhammad all the way until present day, no easy feat for a single book to do. But the authors have done a great job of coherently organizing all the data into an informing and enjoyable read.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great reader, awful text
Comment: I thought this book would have been a great source of information for personal use, however my professor used it as a text and it didn't work well for me. I think its too dense to use as a text, especially if it is the sole book being used in the class.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Complete reference work on Middle Eastern history
Comment: At more than 500 pages, this textbook is not exactly "concise," as might be expected given the panoramic scope of its topic. Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. and Lawrence Davidson ambitiously try to explain the factors driving Islamic culture and its influence on Western civilization, right down to the glossary and chronology. Their main focus is the impact of Islam on Arab history. Once they reach modern times, the authors' strong views shape their explanations, sometimes pushing the book toward commentary rather than history. Some readers may find that their interpretations can be partisan (anti-Bush, pro-Palestinian, accusing the U.S. of terrorism), but such continuing controversies are inherent in Middle East history. As the authors correctly point out, today's society offers no solutions to many of these critical issues, most of which have festered for centuries. To draw the most from its strengths, we recommend this major sourcebook primarily to those who are interested in premodern Middle East history.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not bad when they report on history, but...
Comment: Not bad when they report on history, but their disdain for President Bush (and idolization of President Clinton) causes their treatment of the current Middle East turmoil to suffer from partisanship.
If you are, like me, taking your first real step into the history of the Middle East, expect to read this book several times. Covering 1500 years of history in 500 pages is a bit too ambitious. The result is a "rushed" experience; just not enough space is devoted to the material.
In addition to their partisanship (particularly Professor Goldschmidt's) I was disappointed in the lack of a thorough explanation of the differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims.
In spite of my reservations, I do recommend this book and I will be reading it again once it is returned from a friend.
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Summary: The title for this book is highly inaccurate
Comment: This should be retitled "The Leftist, Israel-Hating, Politically Correct Revisionist Guide to the Middle East." That would be far more accurate. For a textbook, the author freelances just a tad bit too much, a lot of what is in here is presented as fact but is mostly opinion in disguise. The author fails in presenting a clear and unbiased view of the Middle East and instead allows his personal politics to get in the way.
My professor dumped this book as the course textbook 1/4 of the way through the semester due to the never-ending left-leaning political commentary. This is no serious review of the Middle East, just a socialist-based fantasy on how THINGS SHOULD BE. The author himself proclaims that accuracy isn't always important, its the idea that matters.
This book is a joke, I looked for something serious, unbiased to aid me in learning more about the Middle East but this book doesn't present anything new and its political leanings are just to the left of Stalin.
If you want to learn what an extreme left liberal thinks of the Middle East, buy this book, otherwise stick to encyclopedias and hopefully, less biased college textbooks.
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