--- product_id: 17343977 title: "The Modern Middle East: A History" price: "AED 351" currency: AED in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.ae/products/17343977-the-modern-middle-east-a-history store_origin: AE region: United Arab Emirates --- # The Modern Middle East: A History **Price:** AED 351 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Modern Middle East: A History - **How much does it cost?** AED 351 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ae](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/17343977-the-modern-middle-east-a-history) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Extensively revised and updated in the wake of the Arab uprisings, the changes that they fostered, and the fault lines that they exposed, the fourth edition of The Modern Middle East: A History explores how the forces associated with global modernity have shaped the social, economic, cultural, and political life in the region over the course of the past 500 years. Beginning with the first glimmerings of the current international state and economic systems in the sixteenth century, this book examines the impact of imperial and imperialist legacies, the great nineteenth-century transformation, cultural continuities and upheavals, international diplomacy, economic booms and busts, the emergence of authoritarian regimes and the varied forms of resistance to them and to imperialism in an area of vital concern to us all. The Modern Middle East: A History , Fourth Edition, is engagingly written--drawing from the author's own research and other studies--and enriched with maps and photographs, original documents, and an abundance of supplementary materials. Review: Brilliant insight with plenty of examples from throughout the Islamic world - James Gelvin's text is far and away the best brief introduction to the modern Middle East. It is well written and easy to read, and his insights and interception of the broader themes in Middle Eastern history are both original and well-supported. After a brief introduction to Islam and the Gunpowder Empires of the Ottomans, Safavids and Mughals, Gelvin shows how the emergence of the commercial and industrialized West provided a challenge to the culture, institutions and values of the Islamic Near East. Melvin destroys the notion that there is a "clash of civilizations" between the Islamic world and the West, and similarly wrecks the perspective that the Islamic world has "bloody borders". Rather, he posits that the Modern Middle East is the result of several factors: "defensive developmentalism", "constitutionalism" and "imperialism". The impact the growing economic (and later technological and political) power that the West brought to bear on the Islamic world has influenced its shape as the Islamic world on one had sought to adapt, lean and borrow from Europe, while on the other hand, Europe was seeking to exploit and influence the Near East to its own devices. I was particularly pleased to see that attention was given to the Maghreb and Persia as well as to the eastern Mediterranean, an important detail that is often overlooked in general texts on the subject. Gelatin's discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was also masterfully done , especially his summary of the Olso Accords and his analysis for their failure. (His optimism for the region was heartening.) The final few chapters, on the Middle East in the late 20th and early 21st centuries were the strongest, I thought, but only because of the careful foundation he set in the previous chapters of the book. The only complaint I have with the text is the lack of maps and a clearer timeline of events which, I think, would make it easier for those not familiar with places and major players and events to get a sense of location and sequence. For those interested in an excellent history (and outstanding analysis) of the Middle East from the middle of the 19th century into the early 21st century, this is the book I would recommend. I can also imagine it as the primary text for a 200-level course on the Middle East. Review: well written, used as class textbook - I had to purchase this book for a class on the Middle East that I took this semester. The author adds uncommon facts, which added enjoyment to it's reading. I really enjoyed the book. Do note though, that there is a newer edition of the book. I bought this edition because I was auditing the class, so the most recent information was not imperative. The cost difference was dramatic. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #339,642 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #31 in Middle Eastern History (Books) #586 in Middle East History | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 144 Reviews | ## Images ![The Modern Middle East: A History - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41c4HmFPDaL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brilliant insight with plenty of examples from throughout the Islamic world *by D***N on September 5, 2016* James Gelvin's text is far and away the best brief introduction to the modern Middle East. It is well written and easy to read, and his insights and interception of the broader themes in Middle Eastern history are both original and well-supported. After a brief introduction to Islam and the Gunpowder Empires of the Ottomans, Safavids and Mughals, Gelvin shows how the emergence of the commercial and industrialized West provided a challenge to the culture, institutions and values of the Islamic Near East. Melvin destroys the notion that there is a "clash of civilizations" between the Islamic world and the West, and similarly wrecks the perspective that the Islamic world has "bloody borders". Rather, he posits that the Modern Middle East is the result of several factors: "defensive developmentalism", "constitutionalism" and "imperialism". The impact the growing economic (and later technological and political) power that the West brought to bear on the Islamic world has influenced its shape as the Islamic world on one had sought to adapt, lean and borrow from Europe, while on the other hand, Europe was seeking to exploit and influence the Near East to its own devices. I was particularly pleased to see that attention was given to the Maghreb and Persia as well as to the eastern Mediterranean, an important detail that is often overlooked in general texts on the subject. Gelatin's discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was also masterfully done , especially his summary of the Olso Accords and his analysis for their failure. (His optimism for the region was heartening.) The final few chapters, on the Middle East in the late 20th and early 21st centuries were the strongest, I thought, but only because of the careful foundation he set in the previous chapters of the book. The only complaint I have with the text is the lack of maps and a clearer timeline of events which, I think, would make it easier for those not familiar with places and major players and events to get a sense of location and sequence. For those interested in an excellent history (and outstanding analysis) of the Middle East from the middle of the 19th century into the early 21st century, this is the book I would recommend. I can also imagine it as the primary text for a 200-level course on the Middle East. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ well written, used as class textbook *by K***R on December 26, 2011* I had to purchase this book for a class on the Middle East that I took this semester. The author adds uncommon facts, which added enjoyment to it's reading. I really enjoyed the book. Do note though, that there is a newer edition of the book. I bought this edition because I was auditing the class, so the most recent information was not imperative. The cost difference was dramatic. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good... but with some unseemly omissions. *by D***. on August 17, 2009* I would happily agree with most other reviewers; this is one of the best texts that a reader will find on the modern middle east. That said (and I did not notice this the first time through the book), the author does not deign to address many of the atrocities that have happened in the region. For example, the whole of the Armenian Genocide (the deaths of 1.5 million people) is reduced to 3 sentences in the opening remarks of a section. The Shelling of Hama, the Iran-Iraq war, the invasion of Kuwait, and Sabra and Chatila are also glazed over in roughly as much detail. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ae/products/17343977-the-modern-middle-east-a-history](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/17343977-the-modern-middle-east-a-history) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Arab Emirates* *Store origin: AE* *Last updated: 2026-09-02*