Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East

Two New York professors have written a clear, non-bombastic account of the varied peoples, and their cultures, who have populated the Middle East for thousands of years. Because there are far more Arab and Turkic peoples in the region, the book focuses far more on them than on the Jewish communities or on Israel. But the latter country is not overlooked, and there are a fair number of references and explanations of Jewish issues. The authors take an anthropological, rather than a political science, view of the region, which makes for easier reading, and keeps the reader from having to wonder about the hidden meaning of each statement. They look at the early history, with migration a big factor, the arrival and growth of Islam, first as a religion and then, quickly, as a political force, farming practices, the growth of cities, familial ans social issues and development of contemporary political states. This book is well worth the time of people who wonder about the many ethnic groups in the Mideast, especially those who think there are just two sides and two kinds of people there contending for the same ground. They don't spend a lot of time laying arguments out for who should control what part of Jerusalem; they're too busy talking about things in a longer range historical context. Though written for the academic world, it is an easy read, offering us a thorough perspective into a vital part of the world.