Customer Reviews

A History of the Middle East

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book contains everything a modern reader who is anything but a professional Middle East scholar could ever want to know about the history of the region (especially about the Arab-Israeli conflicts). Most importantly, it is presented in a strictly factual, unemotional manner which allows the reader to understand the current problems there and to make his or her own judgments without the facts being skewed or, indeed, being portrayed in a subjective light at all. With this account under one's belt, it is impossible to see the conflicts of the Middle East in a wholly black-and-white, right-and-wrong way. Indeed, the cold facts show how all parties involved have countless reasons for their behavior, and how no one party can ever be completely blamed.
Having also read what Mansfield himself considered to be his crowning achievement, "The Arabs", I actually feel that this is a superior work, at least for my purposes. "A History of the Middle East" presents a more sweeping view for the amateur (but serious) scholar, and can be used as a good reference despite being more than a decade old.
Mansfield follows the region from prehistory, through the Ottoman Empire, and into the modern age, explaining events and motivations in a reasonable and straightforward manner.
It must be mentioned that this is not an exciting book for those without a passionate interest in foreign affairs. But those who are driven to know and understand the goings-on of the modern world will find it an invaluable addition to their library.

I believe the original author Mansfield would be disappointed in what Nicolas Pelham has done with this "revised and updated" version of his book. Mansfield died in 1996 and Pelham was given the task of "updating" this history of the Middle East. I was very impressed with the first 340 pages of this book. I was looking for an even-keeled, unbiased history of this very charged and polarizing subject. I was very pleased to find that Peter Mansfield had done exactly that. Mansfield's original work went up to the first Gulf War and provided a very even history of events from ancient times to the immediate post-Gulf War period. He provides a very readable account that puts current events into context without betraying his own bias. I had been recommending this book to many friends, before I came to Pelham's contribution that picks up in the post war period. He doesn't even try to contain his contempt for the United States and it's allies. The language and tone of the book change dramatically and it is easy to tell where Pelham picks up in the 13th chapter: The Inter-War Years. His contribution amounts to an intensely felt indictment of the United States and it's policy in Middle Eastern affairs. He loses credibility when he throws in trite and petty personal attacks on Western leadership that have no relation to the events he is describing. Even the grammatical integrity changes. There were multiple grammatical and spelling errors in Pelham's chapter. The transition from Mansfield to Pelham is very abrupt and disruptive, regardless of your political leanings. I am very disappointed as the first 340 pages were excellent and exactly what I was hoping for. If you must buy this edition than be prepared. I would have given Mansfield's book 5+ stars and Pelham's contribution 1 star (being generous). I still gave the book a 4 star average because Mansfield's work deserves recognition and it comprised the bulk of the book.

This book is not only very informative and well written but also manages to be reasonably impartial on some of the hottest issues in international relations. The tone changes slightly when Pelham takes over from Mansfield but this is also when we approach the present time. I appreciated the fact that criticism is not one-sided as undoubtedly the Israel-vs-Palestinians problem cannot be summarized by placing all blame on any one side. In fact, I found the exposition more balanced and less negative against Israel than I was expecting from somebody who studied arabic in Damascus and is currently living in Jordan.
Perhaps the Pelham portion would deserve only 4 stars but the rest of the book would be 5+. I would have appreciated a few more and more informative maps but an overall 5 is well deserved.

Mansfield first presents a survey of history before WWI then disentangles the woof and warp of 20th century Middle East history right on up to the US "Desert Storm" Gulf War. Great for putting all the bits and pieces together that you've witnessed for the last 20 years and also for finding out how things got that way and what is behind tonight's latest from the region. Very readable.

I bought this book to understand the Middle East Politics. To understand the origin of the current state of affairs and the inherent causes of the Israel-Palestine conflict and its evolution. The book is an interesting read with the origins dating back to the ancient history, the evolution of Islam. The rise of the Sauds, Ottoman empire. The role played by the British and the constant British-French feud to control the middle east. The Egyptian politics and the Sudanese.
This is just a glimpse of what is really in store. A must read for anyone interested to get a first hand knowledge of 2000 years of the Middle East politics.

This book is a very solid introduction to the modern history of the region. Although it covers a much longer span, the first chapter is subtitled "from Ancient to Modern", the book spends 34 pages on the entire period prior 1800. Rather skimpy. But, it does well given its limited treatment of pre-1800. Another problem is the lack of spirit in the book. One can tell that author is British just by the style.

Having said the above, it does a very good job of summarizing the major history since 1800. And, I would recommend it to any seeking an introduction to the Middle East, esp. the modern world.

As I have followed news accounts of the Middle East for a lot of years, I often find myself asking, "Why the heck would they do that?". This book goes a long way toward helping me understand why.

Reading this book is a little like taking a college course. In fact it would almost lighten things up if there was a quiz at the end of each chapter.

There is a lot of good information here. Though it covers the last 200 years, almost half the book focuses on post-World War Two through Sep 11, 2001. There is a lot of background that you will rarely if ever hear on the news, but it really helps to put all the pieces together

As our news brings us constant coverage about the struggles and tensions in this volatile part of our world, I became increasingly aware of my own vague understanding of the history that created the map of these countries as we know them today. Mansfield provided me with the narrative of that history that leads me to a greater capacity to be present to the current conflicts with greater insight. I found the book highly readable. The additional material by Nicholas Pelham brings the book past 9/11 and to the brink of the Iraq war and is carefully prepared to blend with and suppliment the original text. Both writers seek to recount the history with an appropriate balance of passion for the story and compassion for the complex histories of the people. This work has laid a fine foundation for further reading.

Comprehensive and understandable history of the Middle East. Highlights key developments and relationships that shape today's world. Challenging to read because there are so many names and events.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book dryness and all. I didn't walk away thinking I new much more of the ancient Middle Mast, the artistic and scientific triumphs around the first millennium CE. However I did have a good feel for the decline, fall and despotic histories of the various empires that have run through the middle east. So I think more accurately I would call this a Political History of the Middle East.

I read the other reviews half way through this book and some people are upset about the racist treatment of Israel. I hadn't noticed any up to that point, so I began to pay attention to the passages about Palestine/Israel and considering the scope of the book there aren't that many. What I noticed that there is a paternalistic tone taken towards some countries that were just on the wrong side of history during the scope of this book. I'm thinking the Ottoman Turks and Egypt. Countries that because of where they were in the rise and fall of their empires heading into the modern European Empires (Russia, France and Britain) they could not seem master their destinies.

As such the European powers meddling, invading and threatening is treated dryly yet onerously. The view isn't flattering. And that is where the subtle bias towards Israel showed up to me. Palestine is yet another Middle Eastern state that can't get its act together for all the Great Power power politics. Israel is treated like one of the Great Powers, not like a Middle Eastern country.

I believe the book would make a good project for someone w/a better background in Post Colonial Theory to reinterpret.