A Short History of Iraq: From 636 to the Present

Seminar Studies in History

by Thabit A.J. Abdullah

The twentieth century witnessed the transformation of the area known currently as Iraq from a backward region of the Ottoman Empire, to one of the most important and dynamic states in the Middle East. The rise of modern Iraq has its roots in the second half of the nineteenth century when Ottoman reforms led to gradual state modernization and increasing integration in the World Economy. British control after World War I was one of the determining factors in the establishment of the current borders of the country and the nature of its subsequent national identity. The other important factor was the highly heterogeneous nature of Iraqi society being divided along tribal, ethnic, religious, and sectarian lines.
This book focuses on the interaction between the old and the new, or between continuity and change, as it is manifested in the nature of social development, nation-building, the state and the political opposition.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Thabit Abdullah is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of York, Toronto, Canada.

Reviews

[Michael Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very readable history of a very complex country. This is an excellent starting point for those seeking to understand Iraq and the Middle East.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Succinct, informative, and well-written. Abdullah's A Short History of Iraq is a good overview of Iraq's history and a must read for those seeking a general overview of the political and economic development of a nation that has spent its fair share of time in the news in recent years. Readers will learn about Iraq's divisive history, the strategic location of Baghdad (Iraq's capital) and how that influenced the entire country's history. America's leaders would have been well served had they read this history before electing to launch an invasion in 2003; they would have likely recognized a nation skeptical of foreigners and deeply divided across religious and social classes, making it social disorder and violence a near certainty in the absence of a powerful, dictatorial authority. Once Saddam Hussein was removed from power, America and its coalition failed to fill the ensuing vacuum and a borderline civil war commenced.

So why only three stars? Although tremendously informative, Abdullah's work was perhaps too short. Of course, this book was meant to be a survey, not an in depth examination of the nation's entire history. That being said, there were several moments that felt so brief, that, even for a general survey, a certain level of depth was lacking. At times, the writing was a bit dry as well, but not so much so as to distract the reader from the material. Admittedly, these critiques are primarily linked to one's personal taste; others may find the writing style and depth to be perfectly satisfactory.

All that being said, Abdulah's A Short History of Iraq is just what a three-star review suggests it is: likable, well-written, but not spectacular. An interesting follow up would be to read Abdullah's take on post-war Iraq and how the United States handled the transitionary period and how Iraq's newly formed government is faring today. Abdullah has certainly proved to be insightful and an astute observer of Iraqi history. Every Western pundit seems to have an opinion regarding America's role in Iraq and the broader Middle East, and it is refreshing to read the work of a qualified person outside this realm. Abdullah's conclusion ends on an optimistic tone; whether or not the author believes the nine years since this book's publication have lived up to that positive prognostication would be a fascinating read.

[James Aird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history, but it covers too much time in history. It would be great if there was more information on Iraq during the Second World War. I think this book is great for an introduction to Iraq's history.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise but thorough. Very easy read for a history book. Of the four Iraqi history books that I have read/perused this week, Abdullah's has proven to be the most interesting.

[Michael Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine book, but far too short to start a comprehensive study of religion. While it is informative, Islam is far too complex to fully grasp its concepts, traditions, and faith.