Reflections on Arab History

The Centre for Arab Unity Studies released the third edition of Reflections on Arab History by Charles Issawi.

The chapters of this book present studies in Arab history and the history of the Middle East region, in which the Arab world was the focal point in the Middle Ages. The research revolves around multiple issues, including the economic, social, cultural and demographic history of the region, the development of the borders of the Arab state throughout history, the reasons for the economic and political decline of the Arab region, the shift in influence, and fluctuations in the balance of political, cultural, scientific, technological and economic power between the Middle East and Europe since the late Middle Ages. Moreover, the research revolves about the change of Western perception of the East, and many other points in which comparison is made to some Western countries. The book also analyzes the great change that occurred in the nineteenth century that led to the development of the West’s view of the East.

In the book chapters that the author hopes will help the Arab readers to better understand their past and present, and lead to further research and discussion of the issues at hand.