The Islamic Middle East
Subtitle: an historical anthropology
By: Charles Lindholm.
Publisher: Blackwell Pub.
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Oxford, OX; Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 324
Subjects: Middle East -- Social life and customs.; Middle East -- Politics and government.
Description: This is an account of the origins, nature, and evolution of Islam. It explores the cultures of the Middle East in which Islam originated fourteen centuries ago and of the Arab, Persian and Turkish societies where it remains a powerful force. The author describes the rise of Islam and the Muslim empires, and shows how the evolution of Islam led to the development of Sufism and Shiism [note: reverse the inverted comma]. He examines the achievements of Islamic learning and philosophy, and seeks to reconcile Middle Eastern attitudes attitudes towards slaves and women with Islamic affirmations of egalitarianism. This synthesis of historical and anthropological perspectives provides a new understanding of Islam and of the Middle East. It is illustrated with maps and lithographs, is fully referenced and indexed, and includes a glossary and a comparative time line.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [302]-313) and index.