A History of the Modern Middle East Paperback – 5 Feb 2009

America's military, financial, and cultural involvement with the Middle East is as on-going as it is problematic both in terms of suppressing attacks on America targets and our economic reliance on Middle Eastern petroleum resources. Yet before the emergence of a beligerant and violent Muslim extremism that led to attacks on the American homeland, most Americans know very little about the history and cultures that comprise this area of the world. Now in a newly revised and significantly updated fourth edition, "A History Of The Modern Middle East", co-authored by the late William L. Cleveland (who was a Professor of History at the Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) and Martin Bunton (who is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada), is a comprehensive historical overview of the region beginning with an insightful analysis of the Ottoman and Egyptian reforms through the rule of European colonialists, down to the American invasion and occupation of Iraq. This latest edition addresses the evolving developments of the past few decades that have transformed Middle Eastern societies and the consequent tensions between the forces of modernization and conservative cultural and religious ideological resistance. Of special note is the new chapter on "America's Troubled Moment in the Middle East" which focuses upon the aftermath of the Iraq war and Iranian nuclear ambitions. Informed and informative, "A History Of The Modern Middle East" is an impressive and substantial work of seminal scholarship. Accessibly written for both academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the 20th and 21st century history of the Middle East, "A History Of The Modern Middle East" is a highly recommended addition for academic and community library World History collections and supplemental reading lists.

This is a well-written, easy to read detailed history text on the Middle East through today's convoluted political situation, and how it got that way. One of the best texts I've read. Makes the Middle Eastern situation more understandable from the beginning, and walksyou through its progress to today. If you wonder about the Middle East, this text will help you sort it out.

This is the best all-around introduction to the modern history of the Middle East on the market today. It focuses on Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Arabia and the Fertile Crescent lands that lie in between -- including Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan. It is written in a clear, uncluttered style, it is well illustrated with maps and photographs, and it is regularly updated via new editions. The original author William Cleveland (RIP) and his successor Martin Bunton offer an engaging and critical narrative, with suggestions for additional reading for those who want more.

As another reviewer noted the description for the large print edition fails to mention that it is two volumes. They only send Volume 1 of 2 and there doesn't look like volume two is even available to order off of Amazon. Volume one only has the first 15 chapters of the book so if you're getting this for college, you can get started with this book but you won't be able to finish your course with it.

*Updated Dec 24, 2012

I re-ordered the regular print book and sent back the large print. I used this book for a college class on the Middle East. I found the book comprehensive. Yet as other reviews have noted it does have a biased against the West. It seemed like any atrocity committed against Middle Eastern countries by the West were described in detail. Yet any atrocities committed by Middle Eastern Countries against their own people were pointed out however the details were glazed over, and simply not discussed. One instance that I can point out is that the authors call the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait "annexation" rather than calling it an invasion. But the U.S. invasion of Iraq is deemed Western invasion and occupation in the midst of a Middle Eastern problem.

This is a wonderful and complete history of the Middle East. If you want to understand what is happening in the region now, there is no other book that I would recommend more. However, this one is a slow, densely written pure history book. I am pretty sure it is assigned at the college level in ME history classes, so expect that level of dry historical tone. Extremely helpful, but not the most exciting to read.