POLI 340 Chapter 1: Michael Gasper, “The Making of the Modern Middle East,” in Lust, ed, The Middle East

• School: McGill University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLI 340
• Professor: Rex Brynen

Document Summary

The making of the modern middle east chapter 1. Formation of the me begins with spread of islam in 7th c. ce. From it came the abbasid, umayyad, ottoman, safavid, and qajar empires. 18th c. ottoman empire and safavid/qajar persia two major political entities: 19th c. challenges to power convinced ottomans to take on political and economic reforms, 20th c. wwi resulted in redefined territorial boundaries. Islam created in 7th c. arabian peninsula (today saudi arabia: mecca economic and cultural hub, wealth through caravan trade, peninsula society tribal and hierarchical , no organized state structure. Islam seen to muslims as perfection of judaism and christianity: muslims accept that they worship same god as jews and christians, and believe in same important figures (jesus as important prophet rather than son of god) This (cid:449)as all (cid:449)(cid:396)itte(cid:374) do(cid:449)(cid:374) i(cid:374)to a si(cid:374)gle (cid:271)ook the musli(cid:373)s (cid:272)alled the (cid:862)qu(cid:396)"a(cid:374)(cid:863), (cid:272)o(cid:374)sisti(cid:374)g of (cid:272)hapte(cid:396)s (suras) and verses (ayas)