The Middle East is the site of the first great civilizations in history. Today, it remains one of the most significant regions of the world for a variety of political, economic, and religious reasons. This new 2-volume set spans the history of the region and includes a variety of documents from several eras. The Document chapters include the primary source document, often reproduced in its entirety, the Summary Overview, Defining Moment, Author Biography, Document Analysis, and Essential Themes.