The Middle East, Seventh Edition, provides an unbiased, informative, and readable explanation of the complex and controversial issues that affect the volatile Middle East. Opening with an overview of the region as it enters the 1990s, the book closely examines the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Middle East policies of the superpowers, the regional arms race, the strategic Persian Gulf, the Middle East"s oil industry, and the role of Islam. The seven chapters are supplemented by profiles of Middle East nations and biographical sketches of their leaders, a detailed chronology of events from 1900 through September 1989, key documents related to the region, a bibliography, and an index.