A long, often fractious history has shaped relations between present-day Israel and the emerging Palestinian autonomous areas. This area of the MIddle East has a significant role as the cradle of two of the world's major monotheistic religions and as well as a home to ancient sacred monuments and relics. This penetrating volume traces the history of land that is beloved and claimed by two cultures that share a common past and have been inexorably...

Venerated as the cradle of civilization since the days of ancient Mesopotamia, Iraq served as an intellectual and cultural center in the Arab world for much of its history. Unwilling to let the turbulence of the 20th and 21st centuries eclipse their rich culture and society, the Iraqi people endeavor to secure a hopeful, prosperous future for their country. This thoughtful volume chronicles the major events in Iraqi history and the traditions, customs,...

While they share a border and a rich heritage, Saudi Arabia and Yemen are also a study in contrasts. Where Saudi Arabia has a largely urban population that enjoys the benefits of its thriving economy, Yemen is home to predominantly rural citizens and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Within these pages, readers will encounter the long, intertwined histories of these two nations, as well as their individual struggles for prosperity and...