A History of the Middle East

De: Peter Mansfield

Narrado por: Richard Brown

In this masterly work of synthesis, Peter Mansfield, drawing on his experience as a journalist and a historian, explores two centuries of history in the Middle East. He forms a picture of the historical, political, and social history of the meeting point of Occident and Orient, from Bonaparte's marauding invasion of Egypt to the start of the Gulf War. For more than four thousand years, the Middle East has provided a setting for titanic struggles between great civilizations and religions. In this century it became the focus of rivalry between the European powers as the last major Islamic empire of the Ottoman Turks crumbled and collapsed. The discovery of the world's greatest oil reserves gave the region global economic importance as well as a unique strategic value. The foundation of a national state by immigrant Zionist Jews created one of the most insoluble political problems of our era, which is compounded by the reassertion of Islamic consciousness among the great majority of the region's inhabitants. In two penetrating final chapters, Peter Mansfield discusses Saddam Hussein and the prospects for the future.

©1991 by Peter Mansfield (P)1991 by Blackstone Audiobooks

In Depth, Even Handed Treatment

The narrator's accent took a few minutes to get used to, and the sound quality was merely adequate, but the content was excellent, and for me, quite enlightening. While covering the whole sweep of history, this book focuses on the last 200 years, giving a crystal clear perspective on how the breakup of the Ottoman Empire resulted in the particular nations that constitute the Middle East.
The stories are well told, I was entertained and informed, what more can I ask?

A History of The Middle East

Based on the sample, I fail to detect no problem with the accent what so ever. I look forward to hearing the full book.
If you just want to learn something about Islam, try The Crisis Of Islam by Bernard Lewis. This was excellent.

Not an introduction

Very detailed; however, if you are not already familiar with the events, you will have a very hard time keeping up and, as already pointed out, it will sound like someone reading their personal family tree in a fast, dry voice.

Important, accurate, and reasonably unbiased.

Mansfield takes a thorough deep dive into 5,000 years of Middle Eastern history. A very important study to understanding modern global issues. While the selection and interpretation of facts can never be wholly neutral, Mansfield brings an excellent balance to understanding the various positions and historical actions of the Nation States and their leaders.

Overall, a worth while and key addition to the library of any honest historian.

Dry but worth the effort

This is a solid, straight, history of the Middle East that is well worth reading for a general background on the region. I would recommend it for those of an intellectual bent who are not put off by reading textbooks and the like in exchange for a more scholarly treatment than you'll generally get from the best-seller lists. Would have gotten 5 stars if it were more of a classic and a Great Read like Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.