Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Introduction to the Middle East G. M. Wickens; 2. The historical background of Islamic civilisation C. E. Bosworth; 3. Islamic faith Charles J. Adams; 4. God and his creation: two medieval Islamic views Michael E. Marmura; 5. Law and traditional sociey R. M. Savory; 6. Arabic literature: a living heritage Ella Marmura; 7. Persian literature: an affirmation of identity G. M. Wickens; 8. Turkish literature through the ages Eleazar Birnbaum; 9. Islamic art: variations on themes of arabesque R. Sandler; 10. The Middle East as world centre of science and medicine G. M. Wickens; 11. What the west borrowed from the Middle East G. M. Wickens; 12. Christendom vs. Islam: 14 centuries of interaction and co-existence R. M. Savory; 13. The changing concept of the individual R. Sandler; 14. The modern Arab world L. M. Kenny; 15. Tribalism and modern society: Iraq, a case study Albertine Jwaideh; 16. Iran W. Millward; 17. Turkey: from cosmopolitan empire to nation state Eleazar Birnbaum; 18. Khatimah G. M. Wickens; Suggested background reading; Glossary and index.