1st Edition
Extremism, Ancient and Modern Insurgency, Terror and Empire in the Middle East
Near Eastern archaeology is generally represented as a succession of empires with little attention paid to the individuals, labelled as terrorists at the time, that brought them down. Their stories, when viewed against the backdrop of current violent extremism in the Middle East, can provide a unique long-term perspective.
Extremism, Ancient and Modern brings long-forgotten pasts to bear on the narratives of radical groups today, recognizing the historical bases and specific cultural contexts for their highly charged ideologies. The author, with expertise in Middle Eastern archaeology and counter-terrorism work, provides a unique viewpoint on a relatively under-researched subject.
This timely volume will interest a wide readership, from undergraduate and graduate students of archaeology, history and politics, to a general audience with an interest in the deep historical narratives of extremism and their impact on today’s political climate.
Contents
PROLOGUE
The Middle East and Me
SECTION ONE—NARRATIVITY, AGENCY AND EMPLOTMENT
Chapter One—The Passion Will Play
Narrativity and Resistance
Chapter Two—Gunpowder, Treason and Emplotment
Motive, Agency and Trope
SECTION TWO—TRAGIC EMPLOTMENTS
Chapter Three
"The fanged serpent of the mountain"
Kurdish resistance and the Primeval Hills
Chapter Four
"A true people like so many others the world has seen"
Bedouin insurgency past and present
Chapter Five
"Their hearts were confident, full of their plans"
Palestinians and Philistines
SECTION THREE—ROMANTIC EMPLOTMENTS
Chapter Six
"There was no king in Israel"
The Early Iron Age in Israeli Settler Narratives
Chapter Seven
"Realm like his was never won by mortal king"
Himyarites and Huthis in the Yemen
Chapter Eight
"Our Place Here is But a Deception"
Al-Andalus in Islamic Ideology
EPILOGUE
"Those who ignore history are condemned to retweet it."
Biography
Sandra Scham is Adjunct Associate Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at the Catholic University of America and a countering violent extremism specialist who works with USAID and the Department of State. She lived in the Middle East for over seven years teaching and also implementing Israeli–Arab exchange and peace-building projects. She is the Co-Editor of the Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, served as Editor of Near East Archaeology, published by the American Schools of Oriental Research, and is a contributing editor to Archaeology magazine. She has taught courses on archaeology, politics and the heritage of the Middle East at the University of Maryland and Stanford University.
