Middle Eastern Politics and Historical Memory: Martyrdom, Revolution, and Forging National Identities [Paperback]

How is the complex history of the ancient Near East and Islamic World brought to bear in contemporary political discourse?

In this book, Medieval Near Eastern historian Jacob Lassner explores the resonance of ancient and medieval history in the political disputes that dominate the contemporary Middle East.

From identification with ancient forbears as a method of legitimization and nation-building, to tracing the deep history of the concept of revolution in the Arab world, the author probes the historical foundations of modern conflicts in the region. A medievalist, the author takes the position that an appreciation of cultural history is essential to understanding the debate surrounding the Israel/Palestine conflict. In turn, the book identifies the misappropriation and misunderstanding of the past, deliberate or accidental, as key weapon in the ongoing conflict.

Jacob Lassneris the Philip M. & Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish civilization Emeritus at Northwestern University, USA. his recent books include Medieval Jerusalem (2017), Islam in the Middle Ages (2010) and Jews and Muslims in the Arab World (2007).This volume is a long reflection on the construction over time of received memories and their recasting and appropriation in modern political contexts. Lassner is an acknowledged master, possessing broad and deep knowledge of Islamic history, Arabic and Hebrew philology, the historiography of Islamic studies, ancient near eastern studies and biblical studies, and a deep engagement with the texts and artifacts of these fields. Paula A. Sanders, Rice University, USA

DEDICATORY PREFACE
INTRODUCTION


PARTONE:IMAGINEDHISTORYANDCONTEMPORANEOUS
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR

-ESSAY 1-
RECOVERING AND INVOKING AN IDEALIZED ISLAMIC PAST
ProblemsandApproachestoCompetingNarratives and Historical Memories
-ESSAY 2-
MYTHS lC9