1. These brief histories of selected countries in the Middle East focus on the people and the events that played a pivotal role in the creation of those nations in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

2. Volumes are generously illustrated with photographs and maps that give the reader a portrait of an age that has now been largely eclipsed. Chelsea House was able to obtain many photos from the archives of the Royal Geographical Society, London, for use in a number of the titles.

3. Each volume discusses the legacy of both the distant and the recent past of that country and...

Established by a 1948 UN mandate, which divided the area known as Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, the nation of Israel has remained resilient in its short, tumultuous history. UN partition greatly reduced the land held by the Palestinian Arabs and set in motion a series of conflicts between Israel and its border countries.

A tiny country roughly the size of Indiana, Jordan has enjoyed a stable government throughout its 80-year history and has been a significant force in a tumultuous part of the world. Led by Hussein ibn Tallal for more than 40 years, the country built a strong economy, expanded personal freedoms, and assumed a key role in Middle Eastern affairs. Jordan is home to the ancient city of Petra, an archaeological site that remained unknown until 1812. Referred to in the Bible as Sela, Petra's structures were created by carving into the solid, rose-colored rocks. In 1985, it was designated a World...

For over 4000 years, the land known as Syria was marched over, sacked, and occupied by soldiers of many empires of the world. After the Ottomans' defeat in World War I, it came under the authority of France. This secondary education text includes a chronology and web sites.

For over 50 years, the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis in their fight for land about the size of Vermont has demanded constant media attention. The PNA was created in the hopes of negotiating a permanent Palestinian government and peace between two groups that have historically been at odds.

From the dawn of Western Civilisation to the present day, events in Iraq have been at the centre of world change. Today, as a very fragile democracy is beginning to take root in Iraq, much of the future of the Middle East depends upon this country's success. This text offers a chronology and timeline.

Students and general readers who want to know more about this country that continues to have a major impact on world affairs will find coverage of recent current events, along with new photos, and updated chronology.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. Much of the country has a desert climate. Despite its parched landscape, it is a key provider of one of the world's most important commodities. In 1932 the country's first productive oil well was established.

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal out of the remains of the Ottoman Empire. Under Kemal's leadership and a governing principle called Kemalism, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms.

The United Arab Emirates comprises seven individual emirates, where vast amounts of oil were discovered in the 1950s. With an oil reserve that makes up almost one-tenth of the world's total, this desert country has a stable economy, and boasts one of the highest standards of living in the world.