A Macat analysis of Albert Hourani's A History of the Arab Peoples

London: Faber & Faber, 2012

Albert Hourani's 1991 work, A History of the Arab Peoples, is unsurpassed as an overview of Arab history, from the rise of Islam to the late 20th century. Going far beyond the political history that had generally characterized previous examinations, Hourani integrates a wide range of scholarship to provide a deep analysis of social, cultural, and economic structures. His interest in the everyday lives of Arab people and his desire to understand what united - rather than divided - many different nationalities gives listeners a new and vital perspective on the region.

In A History, Hourani distils all of his thoughts, gathered over a long and distinguished career. In doing so, he creates a work that has wide appeal to general listeners, every bit as much as to scholars. Despite dramatic changes in the Arab world since Hourani's death in 1993, his analysis remains a credible and influential starting point for anyone with an interest in the Middle East.

You can find out more about how Albert Hourani's ideas have been challenged and applied - and how his work has impacted on thinkers in other academic disciplines - by exploring further in the Macat Library.

Macat's analyses cover 14 different subjects in the humanities and social sciences. To browse our whole multi media library and get a lot more, visit www.macat.com today.

Macat. Learn better. Think smarter. Aim higher.