A History of the Modern Middle East

A History of the Modern Middle East examines the profound and often dramatic transformations of the region in the past two centuries, from the Ottoman and Egyptian reforms, through the challenge of Western imperialism, to the impact of US foreign policies. Built around a framework of political history, while also carefully integrating social, cultural, and economic developments, this expertly crafted account provides readers with the most comprehensive, balanced and penetrating analysis of the modern Middle East.
The sixth edition has been revised to provide a thorough account of the major developments since 2012, including the tumultuous aftermath of the Arab uprisings, the sectarian conflict in Iraq and civil war in Syria that led to the rise of ISIS, the crises in Libya and Yemen, and the United States’ nuclear talks with Iran. With brand-new timelines in each part, updated select bibliographies, and expanded online instructor resources, A History of the Modern Middle East remains the quintessential text for courses on Middle East history.

The late William L. Cleveland was professor of history at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.
Martin Bunton is professor of history at the University of Victoria, British Columbia. He is the author of The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Very Short Introduction.
“Cleveland has put his recognized expertise on Arab nationalism and modern Islamic movements to particularly good use in this learned, sensitive, and highly readable account of the past two centuries of Middle Eastern history. The formidable task of combining thematic with country-by-country treatment is accomplished remarkably well.”—Donald M. Reid, Georgia State University “Cleveland has written a cogent and comprehensive political history of the Middle East in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, prefaced by a concise and readable introduction to Islamic history. He is particularly successful in pointing to the persistence and strength of traditional modes of thought and belief in bringing about the reassertion of Islamic identity in the face of the moral bankruptcy of contemporary Middle Eastern regimes and the disempowering pressures of everyday life . . . this book should do much to demystify common misconceptions about this complex and frequently misunderstood region.”—Peter Sluglett, Durham University “For almost thirty years, I have depended on Cleveland and Bunton’s textbook as the anchor of my course on the history of the modern Middle East. It is, to my mind, the very best and most teachable text available.”—Lidwien Kapteijns, Kendall/Hodder Professor of History, Wellesley College “The difficulties of writing an introductory text on the modern Middle East have largely been overcome by William Cleveland in this lucid and impartial history. Perhaps the greatest virtue of the book is the author’s sympathetic detachment in his treatment of an ideologically charged history. Always measured in his assessments, Cleveland avoids lionizing and vilifying whether discussing the colonial experience, the rise of nationalism, the struggle for Palestine, the influence of Nasser or the Islamic resurgence.”—Eugene Rogan, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies “This volume is history in the best sense . . . A superbly written analysis of the social and political disruptions of the Middle East. This updated volume does an excellent job of weaving together various strands of a complex subject in a coherent narrative. It is recommended reading for all serious students who want to understand how the Middle East got to where it is today.”—Phebe Marr, author of The Modern History of Iraq and fellow at the U.S. Institute for Peace “The book masterfully intertwines complex strands of history–from sectarian conflict in Lebanon to the Arab-Israeli conflicts, to the impact of oil wealth and the Iranian revolution. No other volume does this so well.”—Elizabeth Thompson, History, University of Virginia “With the accuracy and balance that the scholar would insist on and with the spirited readability that the student would hope for, this is a fine interpretive study of the Middle East during the past two centuries. A richly textured history, it handles the challenge of highlighting the cultural unity characterizing the Middle East while also demonstrating the region’s diversity-political, religious, cultural, and economic.”—L. Carl Brown, Princeton University “A solid, well-written, and well-packed introductory text that will be easily accessible to inductees into modern Middle Eastern history . . . Careful readers of Cleveland’s text will discover that in a quiet and persuasive manner the author challenges many popularly held beliefs and (mis)perceptions.”—International Journal of Middle East Studies “Impressive political history . . . Provides a brief but useful exposition of Islam and what the faithful believe is expected of them.”—New York Times Book Review “One of the most balanced and comprehensive textbooks that exists on Middle Eastern history.”—Sreemati Mitter, Brown University “Cleveland and Bunton provide a comprehensive history of the Middle East that allows students to understand the decisions of the principal political actors and the results of major events and crises. It has been an indispensable textbook for my survey on how and why the peoples of the Middle East deal with issues of democracy, religious and national identity as well as conflicting reactions toward Western intervention in a variety of forms.”—Stacy E. Holden, Purdue University “This book provides a comprehensive and compelling history of the modern Middle East and is an invaluable addition to any scholar’s library. The authors distill complex and multifaceted aspects of Middle Eastern history and culture for the reader while providing insightful and germane analysis.”—Ellen R. Wald, Jacksonville University “Cleveland’s timely book is now the most comprehensive, up-to-date introduction to the history of the modern Middle East, and it is likely to remain so for a good long while. He does a marvelous job of rendering intelligible the complex political and social changes that the Middle East experienced in the past two centuries. Readers will be grateful to Cleveland for blending much of the best recent historical scholarship into this fine book and for making it eminently readable.”—Philip S. Khoury, Massachusetts Institute of Technology “An excellent overview of the history of the modern Middle East. Eminently clear, comprehensive, and insightful. A truly superior book.”—James Jankowski, University of Colorado “This is the best comprehensive survey of modern Middle East history in the literature. The authors excel at translating complex and controversial subject matter in a highly readable manner without sacrificing cogent and insightful analysis. I highly recommend it.”—David W. Lesch, professor of Middle East History, Trinity University “This excellent survey has been used in many colleges and universities as a standard text since its first edition . . . In this particularly turbulent period of history, this book should be of interest not only to students, but also to every citizen who has to make some judgment, one way or another, about the US role in the Middle East.”—Choice “Highly recommended for anyone interested in a remarkably well-crafted introduction to the history, politics, and international relations of the Middle East.”—International Journal “Lucidly written, well researched and an ideal work of introduction and reference for students of the region.”—Middle Eastern Studies “This survey of the history of the modern Middle East has been well received by scholars in the field. Sophisticated and stimulating . . . Cleveland has contributed a well-balanced, well-researched, and well-planned introductory text for the study of the modern Middle East.”—Judith Mendelsohn Rood, Turkish Studies Association Bulletin “A complete course of instruction under one cover, A History of the Modern Middle East is an ideal and highly recommended textbook for college and university Middle East Studies courses. Enhanced with new time lines in each part, updated select bibliographies, and expanded online instructor resources, A History of the Modern Middle East remains the quintessential text and is a must for both community and academic library Middle East Studies collections.”—Library Bookwatch