A History of the Middle East: Three Thousand Years of Jerusalem and Four Thousand Years of Iran (Complete in Five Volumes)

1. The history of Jerusalem is the history of the whole world. It is a temple of God, the capital of two peoples, and a holy city to three religions. It is a city that exists in both heaven and the earthly realm; a strategic crossroads of clashing civilizations, a place that captivates the world, and the setting for beguiling conspiracies, invented legends, and round-the-clock news. “Master storyteller” Simon Sebag Montefiore recounts Jerusalem’s past and present in chronological order, tracing the three religions’ struggle for the “Holy City” and the rise and fall of several great families. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and archival research, he presents the city’s magnificent three-thousand-year history from an objective, impartial perspective, bringing it to life through the experiences of soldiers and prophets, poets and kings, farmers and musicians, and the families who shaped Jerusalem. He restores the true Jerusalem to view… Jerusalem: The Biography has been a domestic bestseller for years. Upon publication, it received the National Library of China’s Wenjin Book Award, and earned accolades such as “Book of the Year” and “Book of the Year for Influence” from Phoenix Online, Shenzhen Business Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, China Publishing & Media Journal, and other media outlets and professional organizations. It has also ranked near the top of Dangdang’s monthly and annual charts. This fully revised edition adds 30,000 words, including Chapter 54, “The Twenty-First Century,” three additional chapters, and 30 color illustrations, as well as a letter from the author to Chinese readers. 2. Iran, a mysterious ancient land in the East, lies at the heart of the turbulent Middle East and draws the world’s attention. By the sixth century BCE, it had become a world-spanning empire across Asia, Europe, and Africa, leaving behind a rich legacy of political governance and literary and artistic treasures. How should we understand Iran and make sense of its place in the world today? One author is a former president of Shiraz University and the University of Tehran; the other is a renowned French scholar of Middle Eastern history. As they tell its story, the four-thousand-year sweep of Iran’s history slowly unfolds before us. Here, Elamite, Persian, Greek, Turkic, Mongol, and Arab civilizations rose and clashed in turn, as dynasties came into being and fell one after another. What systems of administration did they use? What brilliant cultural achievements did they leave behind? What religious policies did they pursue? One vivid figure after another took the stage, together shaping Iran’s past. Cyrus the Great, Khosrow I, and Abbas I expanded the realm and established prosperous eras, writing glorious chapters in the history of this land. Hassan-i Sabbah, Rumi, and Tahirih, respectively an assassin, a poet, and a legendary woman, added mystery and romance to its history. Narrative prose is a hallmark of this book, lending this serious work of history rich emotion and lively appeal. Drawing on an extensive range of historical sources, the authors present a panoramic view of Iran’s past. Understand it, and you will hold the key to understanding Iran.