A new history of the Middle East from the 16th century to the present - enlightening, excellent, and highly relevant. Written by historian and Islamic scholar Gudrun Krämer, one of the most renowned experts on the subject in Germany. She narrates the entire history of the Islamic world, which extends from North Africa through Turkey and Syria to Iraq and Iran, starting from 1500. Why is Islam predominantly Sunni in Saudi Arabia but Shia in Iran? What tradition does Turkish President Erdogan align with in his style of governance? And are there democratic approaches in the history of the Middle East? From the beginnings of the Ottoman Empire to today's Arab and Islamic states, Gudrun Krämer depicts religion, economy, culture, and social relations, recounting stories of power and resistance, of sultans, scholars, and craftsmen.