Understanding the Middle East: History, Religion, and the Clash of Cultures

A chronological look at major conflicts and events in the history of the Middle East, from ancient through modern times. Understanding the Middle East is for the non-specialist reader who would like to better understand the historical events that are currently shaping the news.
Special topics include the Crusades (and their lasting impact), the Iranian Islamic Revolution, and Saudi Arabia's emergence as a petro-state and global sponsor of Wahhabi Islam. The rise of Islamic terrorism is also covered extensively.
Written in the wake of 9/11 and Operation Iraqi Freedom, this volume focuses on topics and conflicts that would be of greatest interest to outside observers of this tumultuous and important region.
Q&A with author Edward Trimnell:
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Q: What was your goal in writing Understanding the Middle East?
A: Because of recent events, Americans are interested in knowing more about the Middle East, a subject which is not covered thoroughly in most survey history courses, at either the secondary or the college level.
I wanted to give readers a "one-stop shopping" sort of book that would allow them to understand the long and complicated history of the region. The flow of this book is roughly chronological, but each chapter describes a major area of conflict, such as the Crusades, events in Saudi Arabia, or the Israel-Palestinian troubles.
Q: Would you say that this book has a strong pro-Western or pro-American bias?
A: This isn't an advocacy book of any kind. That having been said, the book is admittedly written from a Western perspective. And I have covered the areas that would be of greatest interest to American or Western readers.
Q: What was the greatest challenge you encountered while writing Understanding the Middle East?
A: Without a doubt, the most difficult aspect of writing a book about the Middle East is the complexity involved. Numerous forces have shaped the modern Middle East: From Byzantium and Islam, to oil politics and the Cold War. As I wrote this book, my chief task was to present the details of this complex history in context: I wanted readers to grasp how the sundry conflicts described in this book are interrelated and relevant to current events.