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Syria entered a new phase with the death of its long-serving leader, Hafiz al-Asad, and the accession of his son Bashar in 2000.  While the new president has disappointed much of the hopes for political opening which he himself has created, Syria is clearly undergoing a process of change. The author analyses the factors of economic and political change in the country, and gives a portrait of its new leadership. ... Read more

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After more than a century of neglect, a profound revolution is occurring in the way archaeology interprets developments in the social history of early Islamic Syria. These changes and their fundamental implications for understanding an ever-growing body of archaeological evidence, are central to this book. It sets out to offer, in one accessible volume, an innovative interpretation from an archaeological perspective of social and economic developments in Syria shortly before and during the two centuries after the Islamic expansion (roughly the later 6th to the early 9th century AD). Drawing on a wide range of new evidence from recent archaeological work, some of it unpublished, the book challenges conventional explanations for social change before and after the Islamic expansion, and argues for considerable cultural and economic continuity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Throw objectivity out the window, and back over it to make sure it is dead.
The author begins the book by showing us how his predecessors viewed their findings and created theories based on a very narrow mindset and how the field has grown in the last thirty years to dispel some of those theories.

His own theories are compelling and bring to light many oversights that have a need to be investigated.Though a lot of his evidence does not take into account some of the Muslim writings of the time period in question, it is obvious that we still have a lot to learn.

Unfortunately, this book lacks the same objectivity that he claims his predecessors lacked.The agenda of the author lies in wait in the background until late in the book when he inserts one line about "other" religious figures.At that point it becomes clear that his agenda is not science related and no more objective than the scientists that preceded him.

Bottom line:A compelling argument that draws you in, only to be discredited by the author in the end.

A scholarly examination
Associate professor of Islamic archaeology Alan Walmsley presents Early Islamic Syria: An Archaeological Assessment, a scholarly examination of what archaeology has to tell us about the social history of early Islamic Syria-Palestine, particularly shortly before and up to two centuries after the Islamic expansion (roughly the later sixth to ninth century AD). Chapters recount what the latest research has to say about material culture and society, sites and settlement processes, aspects of daily life such as food or religion and industry, ongoing debates in Islamic archaeology, and much more. Especially recommended for college library and archaeology shelves, Early Islamic Syria blends methodical academic narration with a highly accessible and reader-friendly tone. ... Read more

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This volume deals with the religious practices of the family in the ancientBabylonian, Syrian, and Israelite civilizations. On the basis of a wealth ofdocuments from both the private and the literary realm, the book gives anexhaustive description and analysis of the rites of the ancestor cult and thedevotion to local gods. The author demonstrates the role of these two aspectsof family religion in the identity construction of its followers. The sectiondealing with Israel pays particular attention to the relationship betweenfamily religion and state religion. The emergence of the state religion underKing Saul marked the beginning of a competition between civil and privatereligion. Though the two had great influence upon each other, the tensionbetween them was never resolved. A study of their interaction proves to be akey for the understanding of the development of Israelite religion during themonarchic period.The book is of particular importance to biblical scholars, Assyriologists,and all those interested in the history of ancient Near Eastern religion. ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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This memoir of an Englishman in the French Foreign Legion during the Syrian campaign of the late 1920s relates the brutal story of life in the Legion and war in the deserts of Syria. John Harvey joined the Foreign Legion with the assumption that he would receive a substantial bonus and a glorious adventure. He was wrong on both points. Described is the siege ofRachaya Fort against the Druse faction in Syria, a famous and bloody battle. ... Read more

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This is the first detailed study of the foundation, history, government, growth, and decline of the cities founded in Syria by Seleukos I in 301 B.C., shortly after the time of Alexander the Great. Focusing on the relationship between the kings and the cities in their kingdoms, Grainger reveals that former theories concerning such a relationship require drastic revision.He argues that neither the kings nor the cities intended the cities to be autonomous or independent, as they were far too reliant on royal support. Throwing fresh light on a most important period in ancient history, this study will be useful for scholars of Hellenistic, Roman, and ancient near-eastern history. ... Read more

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This work offers a study, translation and partial edition of "Dhayl Mir'at al-Zaman", one of the most important early Mamluk sources. The work contributes to Mamluk history and also towards the ultimate goal of having the key texts of early Mamluk history accessible to scholars. It is intended for all those interested in pre-modern Islamic history and historiography, the history of the Crusades, the history of Syria and Egypt, the history of the Mongol campaigns in the Near East, military history, hadith literature and pre-modern Arabic literature. ... Read more

Product Description
This work offers a study, translation and partial edition of "Dhayl Mir'at al-Zaman", one of the most important early Mamluk sources. The work contributes to Mamluk history and also towards the ultimate goal of having the key texts of early Mamluk history accessible to scholars. It is intended for all those interested in pre-modern Islamic history and historiography, the history of the Crusades, the history of Syria and Egypt, the history of the Mongol campaigns in the Near East, military history, hadith literature and pre-modern Arabic literature. ... Read more

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As depicted in the great film Lawrence of Arabia, General Allenby planned a swift campaign that would knock Turkey out of World War I. His Desert Mounted Corps succeeded in sweeping through the Turkish lines in an action which was to take them all the way to Damascus, supported on their right flank by Lawrence and his Arab irregulars. The lasting legacy of the battle of Megiddo was that it revealed the potential of a modern "war of movement", producing a profound change in military thought and tactics. ... Read more

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". . . this is an extremely readable book, and in fact one which is often hard to put down, so well written is it, so beautifully produced, and so coherent in its presentation. . . . Basing his study on an exhaustive array of sources, from the French, British, and Syrian archives to conversations with virtually every surviving prominent participant in the events described, Philip Khoury has given us what will undoubtedly henceforth be the standard work on the subject. Packed with information, all of it clearly presented and much in the form of fascinating biographical nuggets, this book will be indispensable to students of Syria, of modern Arab history and politics, and of Arab nationalism, for the Mandatory period, as well as earlier and later ones."--Rashid I. Khalidi, The Middle East Journal "[Khoury] has produced a formidable piece of scholarship which, as well as analyzing new data on the period, surely cannot fail to stimulate many ideas for future research. The product of years of careful work, this is a book to feast on. . . . With the author exercising such an able grasp of his subject, not to mention an obviously deep affection, this work is thoroughly recommended."--Philip Robins, MESA Bulletin ... Read more

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Historical Dictionary of Syria, Second Edition, gives the reader easy access to the history and contemporary situation of one of the world's ancient civilizations.The heart of the work is more than 350 entries on the most influential political figures and events, religious groups and movements, economic sectors, social institutions, and cultural facets.The second edition includes nearly 100 entirely new entries and updates on 43 entries from the first edition.An important difference between the two editions is the inclusion of many more entries on social institutions, such as the family and coffeehouses, cultural aspects, such as art, architecture, cinema, literature, music, and theater, and economic facets, such as inflation, corruption, the public sector, and efforts at reform. There is also expanded coverage on Syria's political dynamics, with entries on human rights, civil society, and security forces. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Pure Joy
You will not find a better cure for insomnia anywhere else in the Middle East History section if you're not a scholar. If you are a scholar, then this book will make you an insomniac! An extraordinary piece of literature, the best Historical Dictionary in the series. The depth of research and coverage of the many facets of the Syrian identity in terms of geography, culture, and politics are adeptly covered in this gorgeous book. Brilliant authorship.

Historical Dictionary of Syria
Don't be fooled by the title -- this book was a real page-turner. A more complete, concise history of Syria has yet to be written. And when it is, I'm sure it will be Commins' own revised edition. It's a hard subject deftly handled with precision. Should be required reading in all history courses.

Historical Dictionary of Syria.
Commins has taken on the heroic task of writing a one-man reference work, and it's proven a bit much for him.Many entries merely scratch the surface, retelling well-known information without providing insight or new information.Others are severely out of date.The bibliography cites no travel book after 1980, thereby missing, among others, the estimable Syria by Coleman South in the Cultural Shock! series (London:Kuperard, 1995).The story of Mustafa Tlas, Syria's current defense minister, ends with his taking this position in 1972. The biography of Ma`ruf ad-Dawalibi closes in 1962, ignoring his many active years since. The entry on `Alawis fizzles out in 1960, just on the eve of their taking control of Syria and, for the first time ever, their becoming power brokers.Information on the Greater Syria ideology ends in the 1950s, missing entirely the successes of Hafiz al-Asad in this domain. Likewise, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party also terminates in the 1950s. The history of Alexandretta ends way back in 1939, just as Syrian irredentism began.

Another problem concerns Commins' tendency to shade information to fit his views and biases.In some cases, this means presenting supposition as fact, for example, asserting that in October 1990, "In a gesture of gratitude, the United States gave Syria the green light" to bring its Lebanese opponents to heel. In others, this means questioning well-established facts, such as his dismissal of Syrian support for the PKK organization as "allegations."

Middle East Quarterly, December 1996 ... Read more

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COREY WINS FIRST PLACE BY NAT'L. FED. OF PRESS WOMEN IN MOST COMPREHENSIVE CONTEST IN NATION FOR HER COOKBOOK DUBBED AS AN "INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC FOR HEALTHY FOODS." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Healthy Syrian/Lebanese Cooking
I have the original cook book from the 70's and use it all the time.My children were always asking for a recipe from the original book and now they have the updated cook book.This
is the best Syrian/Lebanese cook book.It is the same recipe's
I learned from my Mother and Grandmother.
Marti

Healthy Syrian and Lebanese Cooking: A Culinary Trip to the Land of Bible History - Syria and Lebanon
Helen Corey does extensive research prior to having her books published, and the background information contained in these books is factual and the recipes authentic.

Helen is a knowledgeable, dedicated author.

Great!
This is the most authentic Lebanese Recipe cookbook that I have found.It is just like Sitto used to make...I enjoy not only the recipes but the history and storytelling.It brings back the feeling of family for me.

Healthy Syrian and Lebanese Cookingby Helen Corey
I LOVE this cookbook!Last night I wanted to make stuffed yellow squash, "koosa mehshee" so I immediately checked Helen's recipe.And then savored a delicious, nutritious, easy-to-prepare meal.

Helen Corey cooks with love, verve and passion in her soul.Love for sharing God's generous bounty, and she does so with the artistic creativity of a poet.Her cooking demo-s are as graceful as a ballet performance, filled with steady explanations and tips, and punctuated with tasty samples for the audience.

I have gifted The Art of Syrian Cookery to numerous friends - including vegetarians- and to family, especially the nieces and nephews.I also use Food from Biblical Lands for church bread, and religious holiday menus and meals.

Healthy Syrian and Lebanese Cooking is an excellent, user-friendly cookbook, chock full of healthy,traditional recipes from Syria and Lebanon.Unquestionably some of the best soul food in the world!

Author! Author!Bravo Helen.Thank you

Ruth Ann Skaff

A Culinary Masterpiece!!
Dear Amazon readers,
'I am the proud owner of Helen Corey's cookbook Healthy Syrian and Lebanese Cooking. This is truly an interesting culinary masterpiece as Helen goes into the description of Middle Eastern customs and cultures. Her easy to follow instructions on preparing these foods will enable any novice to becoming an excellent chef and I have become one of them. From Tabooley to Baklawa, this is a mouth watering adventure into unveiling the best food flavors of Syria and Lebanon. I'm headed to my kitchen now to make the healthy Tabooley salad as written in her book. I've already made her easy to make Yogurt in my microwave and I get raves on it from my friends. Thanks to Helen for keeping up our culture.'
Chuckie Shahadey
Ft. Lauderdale, FL ... Read more

Product Description
This volume asks fundamental questions about the political impact of cultural institutions by exploring the power struggles for control over such institutions in Syria and Lebanon under French Mandate rule. Countering assertions of French imperial cultural ascendancy and self-confidence, the author demonstrates the diverse capacities of Arab and other local communities, to forge competing cultural identities that would, in later years, form the basis for rising political self-enfranchisement.

Drawing on a wide array of written sources and oral testimonies, the author illuminates how political and religious leaders fought to harness the force of culture through projects as diverse as schools, cinema, scouting, and tourism. These leaders were to be found not only in the French colonial administration or the burgeoning Syrian and Lebanese parliaments, but also in student societies, missionary congregations, and philanthropic organizations. The author pays particular attention to the last decade of French rule before Syrian and Lebanese independence as a critical time of transition and debate.

The rich individual histories of institutions such as the American University of Beirut, the secular French Mission laique, or the Jesuit missionaries come together in a broader narrative that speaks to the ongoing Syrian and Lebanese journeys toward national identity. ... Read more

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"Roman Syria" includes some of the most famous and spectacular ruins of the ancient world Palmyra, Baalbek and Apamea and fabled cities such as Antioch, Damascus, Sidon and Tyre. Yet there are many other sites which are almost unknown, such as the great fortress city of Zenobia on the Euphrates or the remarkably well-preserved villages of the limestone massif of northwestern Syria.This book outlines Syria's pivotal role in Roman history and the conflicts between the empire and its two powerful eastern neighbors: the Parthians and Sasanians. The author discusses the consequences of empire in Syria: the provinces, 'client' kingdoms and city-states, the impact of Rome on the calendars and the economy, the exploitation of resources, the adoption of Christianity, the role of the army and the infrastructure developed by the Romans. Equally significant are regional and local responses: from art and public architecture to dress codes and cult activities.The author stresses continuity as well as change, whether in religion, taxes and trade, political boundaries, coinage or temple building, from the time of the Hellenistic empires and their antecedents through the Roman empire to the Muslim world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Roman Syria and the Near East
I wanted an introduction to this period and Kevin Butcher certainly provides this.There is an immense scope to the work as it tries to cover many centuries of activity and the various interactions of numerous cultures and empires. My main complaint is that there is almost a complete lack of references.I am not a historian, but there are things that catch my attention and I would really like to know where to go next if I want to dig deeper on a particular topic or verify an assertion by checking the original source.

Everything You Wanted to Know about Roman Syria
Wow! ROMAN SYRIA AND THE NEAR EAST by Kevin Butcher is a great book for those interested in Rome in the Eastern lands. It deals with the time period from about the 1st century b.c.e. to the coming of the Arab Muslims in the 7th century c.e. and it covers what really are several modern nations today.
The book is divided up into four parts with individual chapters in them. Part I is entitled Grand Narratives and includes chapter 1 - An Incidental Annexation and chapter 2 - Rome, Syria, Parthians and Persians. These are really broad history, how Rome got involved in this area and who was fighting whom for what. Part II is called Organizing Space and Time and consists of chapter 3 - Political Entities and chapter 4 - Time and Motion. This is how the region and people were organized as cities, ethnicities, etc; who the players were so to speak, and how time was reckoned in different ways. This can be really confusing. Part III is named Production and Consumption and contains chapter 5 - Exploiting the Available and chapter 6 - Portable Antiquities. This is production, commerce, and trade. Part IV is entitled The Construction of Communities and contains chapter 7 - Public Values, chapter 8 - Impure Genres, chapter 9 - The Pious World and chapter 10 - The Military. There is also a short epilogue. Chapters 8 and 9 were my favorite, but only because they contain information about things I'm particularly interested in: art, architecture, and religion. Every one of these chapters, however, holds enormous information in clear and easy to understand language. It has b & w photos and illustrations and at the end of the writing several beautiful color photo plates. I loved the picture of the funerary monument at Hermel just because it had a rainbow in it.
This book also contains a map of the region, a list of rulers, selected bibliography and text notes, end notes, and an index.
Though Butcher is quick to say this isn't a definitive, all encompassing work, because too much is still to be discovered and analyzed, it sure feels all encompassing. It is everything you wanted to know about Roman Syria and the Near East. If you are doing research about the Romans in Syria or if you are just have a general interest in Roman history, this is your book. Loved it.

Must read for Roman Syria lovers!
Dr. Kevin Butcher has simply outdone himself in this exploration of Roman Syria.Obviously he knows the period intimately, and this knowledge shows itself in the many important details in this book.Anyone who wants to know more about this intriguing and far-removed period would do well to buy this book.I'm glad I did!It reads almost like a novel! ... Read more

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Based on the testimony of key players, Syria: Neither Bread nor Freedom recounts the drama of the "Damascus Spring" and its repression, and reveals what happens in a state like Syria to the institutions that occupy the political space between government and governed. From political parties to parliament; from the media to the judicial system and universities, the official veil of rhetoric and propaganda is lifted to reveal a system so demoralized and corrupted that power is wielded for no purpose but power itself; a system which, as Bashar al-Assad himself is discovering, is virtually incapable of reform.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The book with the misleading title
Misleading title

Alan George's Syria Neither Bread nor Freedom has a misleading title. When I first bought this book I thought it would be a description of the genesis and evolution of the Baath Party and the Syrian dictatorship that ultimately led to poverty and suppression of human rights.
Instead, the book talks about a brief period when the current Syrian President Bashar Assad succeeded his father Hafez in 2000. The period witnessed a surge in Syrian hopes that their young president had intentions to modernize the regime and the state and allow more freedom, only to discover later that Hazfez Assad's old guard heavy weights cracked heavily on the few figures who dared criticize the regime and call for its modernization.
The author is clearly informed about this civil movement and its leaders, yet his description of these people is sometimes misleading as he tends to depict them as freedom lovers whereas in fact, many of the Syrian "civil insurgents" are just nationalists who think that the regime has failed in winning regional Arab battles and would love to see a stronger one replace it.
This is particularly misleading for Western readers who might confuse these opposition activists for pro-West at the time they are in fact very much anti-West.
The style of the book is "slow and dry," and gets boring at times. The writer should have spiced up his manuscript with figurative description of the Syrian capital and the people whom he interviewed. ... Read more

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Syria is the Middle East's best kept secret. With its many site plans and maps, readable text and 96 color photos, this book makes available for the first time the immensely wealthy history, archaeology and architecture of Syria to the general reader and interested traveler. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Syria, a historical and architecural guide
The guide book is perfect for a quick reference source of the sights to see in Syria and I will surely carry it with me when I travel there next year. Only wish the maps had a little more detailed info or maybe more maps. But it is great for a planning my trip.

The Middle East
Syria is a very ancient country that dates back to the start of time and has seen a lot in its day, Syria has been a Muslim country for over 1,090 years and before that Syria was mainly Christian. Today, Syria is about 90% Muslim ( mostly Sunni, Alawite, and Druze) and 10% Christian ( mostly Syrian, Greek, and Armenian Orthodox). And both the Prophets of Christianity and Islam have came through Syria in their lifetimes. The population is 90% Arab (mainly Syrian 74.9%, Palestinian 3.9%, Bedouin 7.1%, and Iraqi), the rest are Kurds who live in northeastern Syria, Armenians who live mostly in Aleppo and Kassab, and Turkmens who all make up the remaining 10%.

Syria:A Historical and Architectural Guide
Judging a book by its cover is usually a dangerous practice.However, Ball and his publisher have created a book that is as attractive within as without.From the standpoint of layout, the most striking feature is that the colorful plates are complemented by text pages of approximately the same weight.This feature avoids the awkwardness often found in softbound texts interspersed with photographic sections.
The glossary is adequate, if not thorough, allowing for armchair reading by dilletantes in most cases.However, one will occasionally confront within a definition presented an unfamiliar word not elsewhere defined.
The only other awkwardness encountered in the American edition were the occasional British usages and grammatical anomalies."Colour" and "spoilt" do not grate on the ear nearly as readily as "awoken."But the presence of "vividest" and "have begin" makes the reader wonder about either the book editor's thoroughness or familiarity with elements of grammar and composition.
In sum, I found Ball's work a thorough and colorful introduction to the topic with only the occasional flaw.

A must for understanding the rich history of Syria...
This book is compact in size but filled with descriptions and information. It contains nearly 100 colored photographs and numerous charts and diagrams. It starts out giving a concise historical background of theregion then divides Syria into geographical areas. The author has devotedmost of his description to the chapters on Damascus, Aleppo and Palmyra butno part of Syria is left untouched. I was particularly fascinated by hisaccount of the Stylite priest St. Simeon. The only thing lacking, in myopinion, is a glossary of the many arabic terms in the book which theaverage western traveller would not be familiar with. Every summer I travelto Damascus and before I go I always re-read parts of this book to refreshmyself with the rich history of Syria.

Excellent
Great information on the chaotic history and exciting past of the "cradle of civilization"Recommend it for all. ... Read more