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A Concise History of the Middle East (7th Edition)
by Arthur Goldschmidt Jr.
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Westview Press (2001-08-14)
ISBN: 0813338859
EAN: 9780813338859
Dewy Decimal #: 956
Paperback: 520 pages
Edition: Seventh Edition
SKU: 08110119
Condition: Good As issued no ja
Comments: Trade Paperback. Seventh Edition. Good condition with some underlines or notes in text. No creases to spine or cover. Minor wear to cover. Tight binding and clean crisp text. Nice copy.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
The seventh 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, including a refined discussion of the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad and a clarification of the aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 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 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. This edition also includes a detailed and updated chronology, a glossary of names and terms, and a bibliographic essay listing books and other sources that will prove helpful to both teachers and students. Maps, tables, and figures enhance the value of this edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Great overview of middle eastern history.
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-05-09
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
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.
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Great reader, awful text
Rating  (3)
Date: 2006-12-30
0 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
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.
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Complete reference work on Middle Eastern history
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-09-25
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
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.
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Not bad when they report on history, but...
Rating (3)
Date: 2006-08-04
5 out of 8 customers found this reveiw helpful
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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The title for this book is highly inaccurate
Rating  (1)
Date: 2006-01-21
15 out of 36 customers found this reveiw helpful
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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