Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia [Hardcover]

Michael Richard Thomas Dumper (Editor), Bruce Stanley (Editor)

Book Description

Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference work on major ancient and modern cities in the Middle East and North Africa from their beginnings to today. In an unprecedented work of historical research, renowned experts Bruce Stanley and Michael Dumper provide 5,000 years of authoritative historical coverage as they trace the full trajectory of each city, discuss ties to other cities, and present a comparative analysis of the region through the lens of its cities.

The A–Z entries feature extensive information about each city's location, geography, demographics, climate and environmental issues, ancient and classical history, Islamic history, post–1800 C.E. history, architecture, religious significance, cultural issues, society, municipal features, economic issues, and contemporary trends. Introductory essays explore urban general history and historiography, urban planning and modernization, poverty, interaction between cities, social welfare, culture, identity issues, and the place of these cities within the world economy.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The editors state in the preface that cities need to be brought back into the discussion of the region they term the Middle East and North Africa, or MENA, because cities are the networks and links between the many current and historical cultures of the region. This encyclopedia offers entries on 100 cities, most of them from Morocco east to Iran and Turkey south to the Horn of Africa. Some cities from outside the defined region, such as Nicosia, Samarkand, and Zanzibar, are included because they are "edge" cities, where culture from the MENA region has interacted with other cultures in the world.

Historic cities were chosen for inclusion to give definition to the cultures that built the MENA region as well as to look into urbanization from prior times. The articles on Byblos, Ugarit, and other historic cities are all excellent summaries of what is known about early urbanization and make the book fascinating reading. Some spellings are different than generally seen, Mahdinah (Medina) and Makkah(Mecca) being the most obvious examples. Each article starts out with a brief general description of the city and concludes with a list of further reading for anyone who would like more in-depth information. A glossary of frequently used terms helps with Turkic and Arabic words. Other features include a time line of dynastic and imperial ages, black-and-white illustrations, and a selection of maps.

Inclusion in the text is not necessarily a measure of the critical importance of a city, according to the introduction. American readers may be unacquainted with the history or even the location of Hims (Syria) or Sfax (Tunisia), but other cities, such as Baghdad, Cairo, and Dubai, will be familiar. This volume will be a good addition to any academic or large public library so patrons can learn more about the history and current issues affecting the MENA region. Steve Stratton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description

Bustling cities with twisting streets and busy markets. Lush gardens, quiet courtyards, minarets flashing in the hot sun. The cities of the Middle East and North Africa evoke these vivid images, but the reality is often more prosaic, with problems of poverty, pollution, disenfranchisement, conflict, and poor infrastructure. What fascinating history lies behind these cities, and what are they like today?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 439 pages
• Publisher: ABC-CLIO (November 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576079198
• ISBN-13: 978-1576079195
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,609,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Offers a depth of coverage not seen in more general titles, May 11, 2007

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

CITIES OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: A HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA is a top pick for the high school to college-level collection where courses in Middle Eastern or North Africa are given. A full overview of each city's historical path offers a depth of coverage not seen in more general titles, examining everything from local politics to local culture and blending in debates and controversies on every issue affecting each city. Over fifteen academic contributors from around the world lend insights to an outstanding reference.