The ‘Alawis; or Alawites; are a prominent religious minority in northern Syria; Lebanon; and southern Turkey; best known today for enjoying disproportionate political power in war-torn Syria. In this book; Stefan Winter offers a complete history of the community; from the birth of the ‘Alawi (Nusayri) sect in the tenth century to just after World War I; the establishment of the French mandate over Syria; and the early years of the Turkish republic. Winter draws on a wealth of Ottoman archival records and other sources to show that the ‘Alawis were not historically persecuted as is often claimed; but rather were a fundamental part of Syrian and Turkish provincial society.Winter argues that far from being excluded on the basis of their religion; the ‘Alawis were in fact fully integrated into the provincial administrative order. Profiting from the economic development of the coastal highlands; particularly in the Ottoman period; they fostered a new class of local notables and tribal leaders; participated in the modernizing educational; political; and military reforms of the nineteenth century; and expanded their area of settlement beyond its traditional mountain borders to emerge from centuries of Sunni imperial rule as a bona fide sectarian community. Using an impressive array of primary materials spanning nearly ten centuries; A History of the ‘Alawis provides a crucial new narrative about the development of ‘Alawi society.
#271108 in Books University Press Group Ltd 2015-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.40 x .70 x 5.40l; .0 #File Name: 0691167052232 pagesUniversity Press Group Ltd
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Racism:A Short HistoryBy A CustomerInsightful and engaging. This book proposed a comparative assessment of racism in the Jim Crow-American South; apartheid-driven South Africa and Nazi Germany. I would have enjoyed a deeper perspective on other racist events0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. It gives a good foundation to start your research as it includes numerous ...By CustomerI read part of this book for my philosophy class "Origins of Racism"; and finished it on my own. It is a very well written book for someone starting to dive into the history of racism; and the evolutionary path that racism took in the course of history. If researching and understanding the course of racism is something that interests you I would start here. It gives a good foundation to start your research as it includes numerous cited references as well as information you can further explore on your own.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerThank you