In this compelling narrative, Professor Kortepeter draws upon over five decades of experience as a Middle East scholar to tackle the complexities and evolution of this fascinating part of the world. Told in three parts: 1) Revolutions from pre-Islamic Arabia to the Ottoman Turks; 2) The imperial powers’ forays into the Middle East; and 3) Summaries of American presidents’ challenges and missteps in this complex region, students, scholars, and policy-makers alike will find Kortepeter’s insights equally compelling.