The Middle East and Islamic World Reader

Synopsis

Gettleman (emeritus, history, Brooklyn Polytechnic U.) and Schaar (Middle East history, Brooklyn College, City U. of New York) present primary source material from Middle East history in a work that is probably best utilized as a companion to narrative histories. They have been selective in the topics covered, preferring to concentrate on a few issues than attempting a comprehensive treatment. Even with this selectivity, readers would be hard pressed to understand the history given just the presented documents. For example, the partition of India and Pakistan is dealt with in only one three-page document penned by Muslim nationalist Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Seven chapters focus on the beginnings of Islam, imperialism and social change, the impact of the two World Wars, the struggle over Palestine, the politics of Oil, colonial and post-colonial trends, and the aftermath of September 11th. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)