Islam

by Tamara Sonn

Published 16 April 2010
Now available in a fully-revised and updated third edition, Islam: History, Religion and Politics, provides a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the core teachings, historical development, and contemporary public struggles of Islam. * Features a new chapter on the Arab Spring and the ongoing struggles for representative governance throughout the Muslim world * Includes up-to-date analysis of the civil wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, including the rise of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS * Spans Islamic history from the life of Muhammad and the birth of Islamic ideals, through Islam s phenomenal geographical expansion and cultural development, to the creation of modern states and its role in today s global society * Written by a leading scholar of Islamic studies

The nature of Islam remains an area of intense and topical interest. In this brief but absorbing history, Tamara Sonn explores the key cultural, intellectual, social, and political developments of this fascinating religion. This is a lively history of Islam which is accessible without being simplistic. This book: breaks Islamic history into four periods, to clearly demonstrate the crucial stages of development; explores the key political, cultural and ideological developments within these periods; features illuminating examples of events, characters and movements to highlight key issues and involve the reader; and, concludes with vignettes of Islamic life that represent current challenges facing Islamic societies.