From Algeria and Libya to Egypt and Syria, the Arab world commands Western headlines, even as its complex politics and cultures elude the grasp of most Western readers and commentators.

Perhaps no other region is so closely linked to contemporary U.S. foreign policy, and nowhere else does the unfolding of events have such significant consequences for America.

A Concise History of the Arabs argues that the key to understanding the Arab world today—and in the years ahead—is unlocking its past. In a sweeping and fluent account, noted scholar John McHugo narrates a journey through the political, social, and intellectual history of the Arabs from the Roman Empire right up to the present day. Taking readers beyond the headlines, he describes in vivid detail a series of turning points in Arab history—from the mission of the Prophet Muhammad and the expansion of Islam to the region’s interaction with Western ideas and the rise of Islamism. This lucidly told history reveals how the Arab world came to have its present form, why change was inevitable, and a spectrum of possibilities following the Arab Spring.

At a time of radical change throughout the Arab world, here is a highly informed and accessible account—the perfect entry point for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of what has come and what lies ahead.