Why Study the Ottomans?

The Ottoman Empire was an innovative and multicultural state that lasted for over 600 years. In its heyday, its economic power and military successes made it feared as well as admired in Europe and elsewhere.

An interview with William Cleveland, professor of history at Simon Fraser University and author of the widely used textbook A History of the Modern Middle East, on the importance of understanding the historical context of the Middle East.

822 BCE: The Phoenicians establish the historic city of Carthage (in present-day Tunisia) and set up trading posts along the North African coast. c. 208 BCE: Massinisa becomes king of Eastern Numidian Massyli (east of current Algeria), succeeding his father Gala.

661 BCE: Ali is murdered, presumably by a Kharijite extremist. His son Hassan loses a battle for succession to Mu'awiyah and retires to Medina. Mu'awiyah establishes the Umayyad dynasty and transfers the imperial capital to Damascus. 680 BCE: Caliph Mu'awiyah dies. His son Yazid succeeds him as Caliph.

1492 BCE: Muslims and Jews are expelled from Spain at the behest of the Catholic Inquisition. The Muslims return to North Africa. The Spanish Jews, known as the Sephardim, scatter throughout North Africa, Italy, Turkey, and the Middle East. Those who reach the Ottoman Empire receive a warm welcome from the Ottoman ruler, Bajazet

1901: Oil is discovered in Iran. 1905: Death of the great Muslim reformer, Muhammad Abdu. 1906: The Algeciras Conference, organized with the help of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, prevents war between France and Germany over colonial rights in Morocco. Control of Morocco is granted to France and Spain.

This is an excerpt from Kenneth Cragg's "The Arab Christian: A History in the Middle East" that provides an understanding of Lebanon's history. The primary focus of this essay is looking at the roots of the Lebanese Civil War and its strong religious orientation and the effects on Lebanese society and government.