Category: History

For hundreds of years, popular perceptions of Arab culture have been dominated by Islam. But recent excavations in what is now modern-day Saudi Arabia are revealing evidence of sophisticated and ancient civilizations that are redefining the pre-Islamic era. This basalt tombstone is from Mecca, 9th Century A lucrative trade in spices - particularly incense - [...]

Ottoman History: New Questions, New AnswersTEACHING OTTOMAN HISTORY: A PRIMER (with updates and adaptations)Harvard University Center for Middle Eastern Studies, The Outreach Center, 2003. 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 [...]