Israel is a modern country with a short history set into the lengthy story of Jewish history. A Brief History of Israel, Third Edition explores that history with an emphasis on the period since Israel's independence in 1948. It is a complex story of a people and their modern state, established thousands of years after the destruction of the old one. The story of the independent state of Israel is narrated against the backdrop of exile, anti-Semitism, Zionism, and the Holocaust--all of which have helped shape the nature of the current state.

The chronological narration begins with the time of Abraham and the period of the Israelite kingdoms and continues to World War II and the United Nations Partition Plan. A Brief History of Israel, Third Edition explores the independent country of Israel, including the Arab-Israeli conflict, domestic politics, the economy, and international relations. Completely up-to-date, this edition features a new preface, introduction, and final chapter, and revised and updated appendixes.

Coverage includes:

-The period since Israel's independence in 1948
-The Middle East peace process
Hamas's election victory and its effect on Israel
-The 2009 election won by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud Party
-Israel's relationship with the Obama administration
-The Arab Spring and its effects.

This is the fourth book in studying the reign of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. It relates the life of the Leader of the Believers, 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, from birth until his martyrdom. The book relates with detail how he came to Islam and his most important actions in Makkah, his migration to Madinah, his life in Madinah, his campaigns and battles alongside the Messenger of Allah, his life during the era of Rightly Guided Caliphs and his swearing of allegiance and his period of Caliphate. It also discusses the internal problems that 'Ali faced during his reign. It goes on to mention the events that led to the Battle of the Camel, and how all the parties involved are free from any fault. Afterwards, the events of the Battle of Siffeen are mentioned, along with the relationship between 'Ali and Mu'aawiyah. The book sheds light on the fallacies that are held by some deviant groups about these events and their distortion of historical truths.

Succession to the prophet . . . The murder of Uthman and the quest for justice . . . The Battle of the Camel . . . Ahl al-Bayt . . . Caliphs and Imams . . . Moderation and extremism..
This book is far more than a biography. It discusses major issues that have their origins in the early decades of Islam and their repercussions still felt today. In this book, Dr. Sallabi guides the reader through a myriad of hadiths and reports, peeling away the centuries-old layer of hostile elements both in the Muslim world and beyond that sought to conceal the truth. What emerges is a clear picture of the first great turmoil that engulfed the Muslim world and how the noble companions of the Prophet and the members of his family worked together to resolve these issues, by following the guidance and teachings of the Messenger of Allah.
The true battle for hearts and minds is that which is raging in the Muslim world today, where many vested interests are seeking to distort the Muslim self-image. It is high time for us to reclaim our history and to stop letting others tell it for us. This book is of great importance as it sets the record straight on a period of our history that is of major significance. Every Muslim who cares about the big issues faced by Islam and Muslims should read this book..

In the aftermath of World War II, Prussia - a centuries-old state pivotal to Europe's development - ceased to exist. In their eagerness to erase all traces of the Third Reich from the earth, the Allies believed that Prussia, the very embodiment of German militarism, had to be abolished. But as Christopher Clark reveals in this pioneering history, Prussia's legacy is far more complex.

What we find is a kingdom that existed nearly half a millennium ago as a patchwork of territorial fragments, with neither significant resources nor a coherent culture. With its capital in Berlin, Prussia grew from being a small, poor, disregarded medieval state into one of the most vigorous and powerful nations in Europe. Iron Kingdom traces Prussia's involvement in the continent's foundational religious and political conflagrations: from the devastations of the Thirty Years' War through centuries of political machinations to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, from the enlightenment of Frederick the Great to the destructive conquests of Napoleon, and from the "iron and blood" policies of Bismarck to the creation of the German Empire in 1871 and all that implied for the tumultuous 20th century.

Spanning a period of 2000 years from the Roman conquest of Dacia to the present day, A Concise History of Romania traces the development of a unique nation situated on the border between East and West. In this illuminating new history, Keith Hitchins explores Romania's struggle to find its place amidst two diverse societies: one governed by Eastern orthodox tradition, spirituality and agriculture and the other by Western rationalism, experimentation and capitalism. The book charts Romania's advancement through five significant phases of its history: medieval, early modern, modern and finally the nation's 'return to Europe'; evaluating all the while Romania's part in European politics, economic and social change, intellectual and cultural renewals and international entanglements. This is a fascinating history of an East European nation; one which sheds new light on the complex evolution of the Romanians and the identity they have successfully crafted from a unique synthesis of traditions.

The victors of the First World War created Hungary from the ruins of the Austro-Hungarian empire, but, in the centuries before, many called for its creation. Norman Stone traces the country's roots from the traditional representative councils of land-owning nobles to the Magyar nationalists of the nineteenth century and the first wars of independence.
Hungary's history since 1918 has not been a happy one. Economic collapse and hyperinflation in the post-war years led to fascist dictatorships and then Nazi occupation. Optimism at the end of the Second World War ended when the Iron Curtain descended, and Soviet tanks crushed the last hopes for independence in 1956 along with the peaceful protests in Budapest. Even after the fall of the Berlin Wall, consistent economic growth has remained elusive.
This is an extraordinary history - unique yet also representative of both the post-Soviet bloc and of nations forged from the fall of empires.