Frontiers Of The State In The Late Ottoman Empire

Description:
Until the mid-nineteenth century, Transjordan was a frontier region of the Ottoman province of Syria. In a time of European challenges to Ottoman integrity, the region's strategic location, linking Syria to Palestine and Arabia, motivated the Ottoman state to extend direct rule over this region. Using new archival material from Ottoman, Arabic and European sources, Eugene Rogan documents the case of Transjordan to provide a theoretically informed and articulate account of how the Ottoman state restructured and redefined itself during the last decades of its empire. In so doing, he explores the idea of frontier as a geographical and cultural boundary, and sheds light on the processes of state formation which ultimately led to the creation of the Middle East as it is defined today. The book concludes with an examination of the Ottoman legacy in the modern state of Jordan. Awarded both the Albert Hourani Book Award and the Turkish Studies Association Koprulu Prize at the Middle East Studies Association conference in November 2000.

Review:
'Rogan has written an authoritative account of Transjordan ... The reader will readily accept his arguments not only because of the overwhelming evidence of the facts presented but also because of the clear and straight-forward argumentation, which is free of theoretical overload.' Maurus Reinkowski, Die Welt des Islams 'A rich and well documented study, which certainly changes our picture of the history of the regions which nowadays are known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. A study which also arouses questions, and gives ideas for the future studies on this part of the Middle East. A highly recommended reading for anybody interested in the history the Middle East.' Acta Orientalia 'Rogan paints an intriguing and nuanced picture of a frontier society's experience of incorporation into the modern state ... Rogan's book is likely to be the standard work on the subject for many years to come, and it is a rich source for considering a number of salient issues in the history of the modern Middle East as well as of the accidental Jordanian kingdom. The author's empathy for the people of the country and his interest in their participation in their own history make this a laudable example of committed yet critical humanist scholarship.' International Journal of Middle East Studies 'Eugene Rogan's impressively researched book is a welcome addition to the burgeoning field of Ottoman provincial history.' Middle East Journal

Table of Contents:
Introduction; 1. The Transjordan frontier in 1850; 2. Ottomans: establishing a permanent presence in Transjordan; 3. Settlement: colonization, the application of the 1858 land law, and their fiscal consequences; 4. Merchants; 5. Missionaries; 6. Accommodation: rapid social change in Ottoman Transjordan; 7. Resistance: popular rebellion and the 1910 Karak Revolt; 8. The First World War; Epilogue.