The National Middle East History Competition

Core Reading List

Competition questions derive from these authoritative texts, chosen for their comprehensive coverage and scholarly rigor:

• “A History of the Ottoman Empire” by Douglas Howard
• “The Arabs: A History” by Eugene Rogan
• “Israel: A History” by Martin Gilbert
• “Jerusalem: The Biography” by Simon Sebag Montefiore
• “The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2,000 Years” by Bernard Lewis

While of course one can participate in the competition without having read these works, studying them will contribute to one’s likelihood of success and their knowledge of Middle East history, politics, and culture.