Blough-Weis Library: History Research Guide: Middle East

Middle East History Research Links

Here are links for sources on Middle East history topics.

To find articles and books on this topic, also see the pages for

[Studio portrait of models wearing traditional clothing from the
provinces of Hedjaz (Hejaz), Yemen and Tripoli, Ottoman Empire] [1873] from Library of Congress [ LC-USZC4-11842].

Travelers in the Middle East Archive
The Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA) is a digital archive that focuses on Western interactions with the Middle East, particularly travels to Egypt during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

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TIMEA offers electronic texts such as travel guides, museum catalogs, and travel narratives, photographic and hand-drawn images of Egypt, historical maps, and interactive GIS (Geographic Information Systems) maps of Egypt and Cyprus.
The Middle East in Early Prints and Photographs
Several thousand prints and photographs contained in works from the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century.
The Giza Archives
Comprehensive resource for research on Giza. It contains photographs and other documentation from the original Harvard University - Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition (1904 to 1947) and other resources.
Medieval Sourcebook
Collection of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts presented cleanly (without advertising or excessive layout) for educational use
Islamic Heritage Project
Digital copies of over 280 manuscripts, 275 printed texts, and 50 maps, totaling over 156,000 pages.
ABZU
Guide to open access materials on study of Ancient Near East and Mediterranean.
Jerusalem Virtual Library
Searchable digitized historical materials and primary sources about Jerusalem.
The Recognition of the State of Israel
The Truman Library's collection of documents.
UN Information System on the Question of Palestine
UNISPAL contains largely the English texts of over 30,000 United Nations documents.
RAMBI
Index of articles in Jewish Studies.
Expeditions and Discoveries
Delivers maps, photographs, and published materials, as well as field notes, letters, and a unique range of manuscript materials on selected expeditions between 1626 and 1953. Browse by region/country.
Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative
Searchable collection of oral narratives translated by native Turkish speakers.

ARTstor

World Digital Library
The World Digital Library (WDL) makes available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world.
World Directory of Minorities & Indigenous Peoples
Search the Minority Rights Group's interactive world map for underrepresented populations organized by country or region.

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Focuses on topics such as gender, education reform, economic development, land/property rights, and prevention of conflict/genocide, together with the key area of public participation.
The Giza Archives
Comprehensive resource for research on Giza. It contains photographs and other documentation from the original Harvard University - Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition (1904 to 1947) and other resources.

Country Background Information

Country Analysis PESTLE Reports: MarketLine Advantage
Search or browse by country to find reports that analyze the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) structures there.

Country Studies (Library of Congress)
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The Country Studies Series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world.

CIA World Factbook

The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.

BBC News Country Profiles
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Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries and territories, and background on key institutions.

They also include audio and video clips from BBC archives.
Guide to Law Online: Nations
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List of links about a country geared toward legal researchers. Includes links to Constitutions and information about branches of government.
U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets
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Background information about a country prepared by the U.S. Department of State.

World Digital Library

The World Digital Library (WDL) makes available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world.

Books to get started

You can also search WorldCat and request books from other libraries.

Here are some encyclopedias or other general books on history of the Middle East available online or at the library.

Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa by Philip Mattar
Call Number: REF DS43 .E53 2004

ISBN: 0028657691

Publication Date: 2004-06-01
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the near East by Eric M. Meyers (Editor); American Schools of Oriental Research Staff (Compiled by)
Call Number: REF DS56 .O9 1997

ISBN: 0195065123

Publication Date: 1996-11-28
Dictionary of the Ancient Near East by Piotr Bienkowski (Editor); Alan Millard (Editor)
Call Number: REF DS56 .D5 2000

ISBN: 0812235576

Publication Date: 2000-03-02
The Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars by Spencer C. Tucker (Editor)
Call Number: REF DS63.1 .E453 2010

ISBN: 9781851099474

Publication Date: 2010-11-01
Iraq, 1990-2006 by Philip E. Auerswald (Editor)
Call Number: REF DS79.75 .I728 2009

ISBN: 0521767768

Publication Date: 2009-07-30
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt by Donald B. Redford (Editor)
Call Number: REF DT58 .O94 2000

ISBN: 0195102347

Publication Date: 2001-01-11
Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures by Suad Joseph (Editor); Afsaneh Najmabadi (Editor); Julie Peteet (Editor); Seteney Shami (Editor); Jacqueline Siapno (Editor); Jane I. Smith (Editor)
Call Number: REF HQ1170 .E53 2003

ISBN: 9004132473

Publication Date: 2003-09-01
Biographical Dictionary of Modern Egypt by Arthur Goldschmidt
Call Number: ebook

ISBN: 1555872298

Publication Date: 2000-02-01
The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium by Alexander P. Kazhdan (Editor)
Call Number: REF DF521 .O93 1991

ISBN: 0195046528

Publication Date: 1991-05-02
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World by John L. Esposito (Editor)
Call Number: REF DS35.53 .O95 1995

ISBN: 0195066138

Publication Date: 1995-03-30