The Islamic Middle East: Tradition and Change, Revised Edition (Repost)

The Islamic Middle East is a rare, thought-provoking account of the origins, nature, and evolution of Islam that provides a historical perspective vital to understanding the contemporary Middle East.Content: Chapter 1 The Middle East: Assumptions and Problems (pages 3–14): Chapter 2 Ways of Living (pages 17–32): Chapter 3 Traditions of Authority and Freedom (pages 33–48): Chapter 4 The Social Construction of Egalitarianism (pages 49–62): Chapter 5 The Prophetic Age (pages 65–83): Chapter 6 Early Struggles for Authority (pages 84–104): Chapter 7 Sacred and Secular Rulers (pages 105–119): Chapter 8 Novelties and Continuities (pages 120–135): Chapter 9 The Essentials of Islam (pages 139–150): Chapter 10 Recapturing the Sacred Past: The Power of Knowledge (pages 151–166): Chapter 11 The Partisans of Ali (pages 167–180): Chapter 12 Sufism in Practice (pages 181–193): Chapter 13 The Contradictions of Saintly Authority (pages 194–209): Chapter 14 Slaves, Eunuchs, and Blacks (pages 213–227): Chapter 15 The Ambiguities of Women (pages 228–244): Chapter 16 Escapes from Distinction: Love and Friendship (pages 245–255): Chapter 17 Problems and Possibilities (pages 259–271):