Overview

The Syrian state is less than 100 years old, born from the wreckage of World War I. Today it stands in ruins, shattered by brutal civil war. How did this happen? How did the lands that are today Syria survive incorporation with the Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century and the trials and vicissitudes of the Sultan's rule for four centuries, only to collapse into civil war in recent years? Arguably it was the Ottoman period that laid the fragile foundations of a state that had to endure a turbulent twentieth century under French rule, tentative independence, a brutal and corrupt dictatorship and eventual disintegration in the twenty-first. Across a diverse cast of individuals, rich and poor, James Reilly explores these fractious and formative periods of Ottoman, Egyptian and French rule, and the ways that these contributed to the contradictions and failings of the rule of the Assad family; and to a civil war which produced the so-called Islamic State. In charting Syria's history over the last five centuries in their entirety for the first time, Reilly demonstrates the myriad historical, cultural, social, economic and political factors that bind Syrians together, as well as those that have torn them apart. Based on primary sources, recent historiography in English, French and Arabic and more than 30 years' experience living and working in the region, this is the essential book for understanding modern Syria and the Middle East.

Full Product Details

9781784539610

Table of Contents

Reviews

'James Reilly's Modern History of Syria is a gem. Reilly does what only a master historian who has studied Syria for a lifetime could do: he condenses 500 years of history into 200 pages, and almost every page delivers a sparkling insight set off by a simple and elegant style. This book should be read by anyone wishing to understand the deeper social and cultural dimensions of Syria's modern crisis. I will be assigning it in my Modern Middle East class.' - Joshua Landis, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma and author of Syria Comment, 'James Reilly is a leading historian of modern Syria, and this book will be a certain, and immediate, classic. It is likely to be the best book published on Syria for a long time, and it is obvious the author has been an acute and wise first-hand observer of Syrian politics and society over the past several decades. The scope and breadth is outstanding and it makes an enjoyable and fluid read, giving the reader plenty to think about.' - Michael Provence, Professor of History, University of California, San Diego, 'An epic history of modern Syria, this book is vital to understanding the roots of what has become the most devastating conflict of the 21st century. From Syria's history under Ottoman Turkish and European rule up until its experience of military dictatorship, Reilly helps explain the roots of Syria's tragedy and the possible futures that may await it.' - Murtaza Hussain, The Intercept, 'None of Syria's current problems were born yesterday. Almost everything that the people of Syria are fighting about today is deeply rooted in history - a history that needs to be constantly revisited, re-taught and deeply comprehended to understand why and how Syria collapsed in 2011. That's what makes this book particularly important, because it reaches back to the sixteenth century, giving a comprehensive academic background to readers, penned by none other than James A. Reilly, a veteran Syriatolologist with seminal works on nineteenth-century Damascus. Generations have grown up hearing his lectures in Toronto and reading his scholarly articles, which have become overnight classics and must-reads for historians of Damascus.' - Sami Moubayed, author of Under the Black Flag (I.B.Tauris) and founder of The Damascus History Foundation, 'With his deep understanding of Syria, James A. Reilly has produced a masterpiece that illuminates the country's convoluted past and tragic present. It would be hard to find a more lucid and gripping guide to the roots of the Syrian predicament. If there is one book you have to read about Syria to better understand the reasons behind its fragility, this is it.' - Omer Taspinar, Professor of Security Studies, US National War College; non-resident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution and author of The Mirage: Misunderstanding the Middle East (I.B.Tauris, forthcoming)

Author Information

James Reilly is Professor of History at the University of Toronto and specialises in the social history of Syrian cities. He travelled widely in Syria between 1974 and 2010, living there on two separate occasions, and is the author of A Small Town in Syria and The Ottoman Cities of the Lebanon (I.B.Tauris).

Tab Content 6

Countries Available