UNDERSTANDING THE MIDDLE EAST:
History, Religion, and the Clash of Cultures
400 pages
Copyright © 2007 by Beechmont Crest Publishing
First edition, 2007
0-9748330-6-1
On Sale Now
Sample chapters available below
About the book: The turmoil in the contemporary Middle East springs from a variety of complex causes. To grasp the situation in the Middle East, one must delve into the history of ancient empires, competition between the world’s three monotheistic religions, and the geopolitical rivalries of the past two centuries. This book gives the reader a concise but broad-based introduction to the complex history of the Middle East----from ancient times to today’s headlines.
This book takes a conflict-based approach to the Middle East. While explaining the historical details behind the region’s multiple conflicts, the author does not pull any punches for the sake of political correctness. In about 400 pages, the reader can explore: the intrigues and power struggles of the ancient Middle East, the birth and rise of Islam, the politically incorrect truths about the Crusades, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the birth of al-Qaeda and the planning of 9/11, the depredations of the Ottoman Empire, and the threats that militant Islam presents to civil liberties in a multicultural Western Europe.
About the author: Edward Trimnell is the author of Why You Need a Foreign Language & How to Learn One. His ideas about the strategic significance of foreign languages have been cited in the academic and commercial mainstream press, as well as U.S. military publications. Why You Need a Foreign Language & How to Learn One has been adopted for use in political science classes at the university level. In Understanding the Middle East, Trimnell explores yet another aspect of contemporary international relations.
Black = Full Chapter text available online
Maroon = Partial chapter text available online
Introduction
Chronology of Major Events
Chapter 1: The Ancient Middle East
Chapter 2: The Birth and Rise of Islam
Chapter 3: Understanding the Crusades
Chapter 4: The Basics of Islam
Chapter 5: A Millennium of Change in the Middle East
Chapter 6: Zionism and the Modern State of Israel
Chapter 7: Iran: the Islamic Republic
Chapter 8: The Story of Saudi Arabia
Chapter 9: Iraq Before Saddam Hussein
Chapter 10 Saddam Hussein’s Iraq
Chapter 11: Islamic Fundamentalism and Global Terror
Chapter 12: Beyond the Middle East: the Clash of Cultures
Selected Bibliography
Index
Chapter Descriptions
Chapter 1: The Ancient Middle East: There were civilizations in the Middle East long before the current conflicts between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Chapter 1 describes the ancient Middle East, from the first rise of civilization, to Roman control over the area. In this chapter you will meet the ancient Sumerians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Assyrians, and others. This chapter also includes the story of the ancient Hebrews.
Chapter 2: The Birth and Rise of Islam: Around 610 A.D., a prophet named Mohammed began to experience a series of revelations. Within a few decades, the religion he founded---Islam----dominated the Arabian Peninsula. Within a hundred years of Mohammed’s death, Islam had become a major religious and political force in the Middle East. Chapter 2 explores the origins of Islam, and its early years of expansion.
Chapter 3: Understanding the Crusades: This chapter discusses the Crusades. Although the last Crusades ended more than seven hundred years ago, these wars of the Middle Ages suddenly became a topic of conversation in the months following 9/11.
Chapter 4: The Basics of Islam: Islam is definitely one of the topics that could be expanded into a separate book. This chapter gives the reader the basics.
Chapter 5: A Millennium of Change in the Middle East: Chapter 5 examines the Christian Reconquest of Muslim Spain, the Mongol invasions, the Ottoman Empire, and how the twentieth century’s two World Wars changed the Middle East.
Chapter 6: Zionism and the Modern State of Israel: This chapter begins with a look at Palestine after the Roman era. Next there is a brief history of the European Zionist movement, and early Jewish migrations to Palestine. The chapter covers the establishment of the State of Israel, and the wars between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors. The Israeli-Palestinian conflicts are also covered.
Chapter 7: Iran: the Islamic Republic: Chapter 7 explains some basic characteristics of Iran, and how Iran differs from its Arab neighbors. Foreign powers have often intervened in Iran’s internal politics. This chapter details Iran’s past relationships with Great Britain, Russia, and the United States. Much of Chapter 7 is devoted to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the Iran hostage crisis. There is also a brief summary of President Khatami’s years in office, and an introduction to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Chapter 8: The Story of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, and the birthplace of fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers. Saudi Arabia is also significant as the home of Wahhabi Islam, and the site of Islam’s two holiest sites—Mecca and Medina. In Chapter 8 you will find the story of the House of Saud, and some of the problems that confront the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Chapter 9: Iraq Before Saddam Hussein: Before Iraq was known as “Iraq,” the country made up three provinces of the Ottoman Empire. This chapter presents the history of sectarian conflict in Iran, and the violent struggles that shook the country before Saddam Hussein rose to power. This chapter ends with the creation of the Iraqi Ba’athist state, and Saddam’s years as the subordinate of Hasan al-Bakr.
Chapter 10: Saddam Hussein’s Iraq: Saddam Hussein consolidated his grip on the Iraqi government in 1979. This chapter delves into all of Saddam’s major crimes, invasions, and blunders, including the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 was one of the most significant events in Iraq’s recent history. This war is therefore covered in depth; and the chapter necessarily spends some time on the other side of Iraq’s eastern border—in Iran.
Chapter 11: Islamic Fundamentalism and Global Terror: Why does Islamic extremism exist, and how did it become such an influential force in the Middle East? This chapter looks at the leaders and founders of militant Islam: Hassan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and Osama bin Laden. This chapter examines the motivation and tactics of these men. 9/11 and its aftermath are included.
Chapter 12: Beyond the Middle East: the Clash of Cultures: Confrontations between secular Western-style democracy and militant Islam are not limited to the Middle East. Chapter 12 looks beyond the Middle East to examine Islamist conflicts in Asia and Europe. The chapter explores the Koranic origins of jihad, and the fundamental differences between Western and Islamic values.
Copyright 2005 Beechmont Crest Publishing
