The Multiple Identities of the Middle EastThe Middle East is the birthplace of ancient civilizations, but most of the modern states that occupy its territory today are of recent origin, as are many key concepts of communal and individual identity and loyalty that the peoples of the region now confront. In The Multiple Identities of the Middle East, eminent Middle East historian Bernard Lewis elucidates the critical role of identity in the domestic, regional, and international tensions and conflicts of the Middle East today. Examining religion, race and language, country, nation, and state, Lewis traces the rapid evolution of the identities of the Middle Eastern peoples, from the collapse of the centuries-old Ottoman Empire in 1918 to today's clash of old and new allegiances. He shows how, during the twentieth century, imported Western ideas such as liberalism, fascism, socialism, patriotism, and nationalism have transformed Middle Easterners' ancient notions of community, their self-perceptions, and their aspirations. To this fascinating historical portrait, Lewis brings an understanding of the region and its peoples, as well as a profound sympathy for the plight that the modern world has imposed on them. The result is an invaluable tool in our understanding of an area that is of increasing global importance and concern today. |
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Abbasid accepted acquired adopted alien ancient antiquity Arab countries Arabia Arabic script Aramaic Asia Baghdad belief caliphate called Christendom Christian church civil classical conquest crescent culture defined denote dhimmis distinctive domination dynastic Egypt Egyptian emblems ethnic Europe European faith greater Arab Greece Greek groups guage Hebrew Holy Law imperial Iran Iranian Iraq Iraqi Islamic world Israel Jewish Jews Judaism lands language Latin Lebanese Lebanon Libya literature loyalty major means medieval Middle East Middle Eastern minorities modern Muslim Muslim countries national identity nationalist nineteenth century non-Muslim North Africa origin Ottoman Empire Palestine Palestinian pan-Arab pan-Islamic past Persian political present day Prophet province Qur'an recent regime region religion religious remained Republic Roman rule rulers scripture Semitic sense shah Shi'a Shi'ite significant social sometimes sovereign Soviet sultan Sunnī survived Syria term territorial tion tolerance tradition Turkey Turkic Turkish Turks usage West Western word Zoroastrian