Library Research Guides: HIST 366: 'Greater Syria' under Ottoman and European Colonial Rule, 1850-1950: Start Here!

Context is Key

Try using a specialized reference work to get started with your research.

Encyclopedias are great, authoritative ways to understand more about a topic and find some places to look next.

Browse one of these works to spark a paper topic or use one to look up the context of a word or place from your readings.

Oxford Islamic Studies Online This link opens in a new window
Reference content and commentary by renowned scholars in areas such as global Islamic history, concepts, people, practices, politics, and culture.

A History of the Modern Middle East
This comprehensive work provides a penetrating analysis of modern Middle Eastern history, from the Ottoman and Egyptian reforms, through the challenge of Western imperialism, to the American invasion of Iraq and Iran's new influence in the region.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World
This unique reference is a comprehensive encyclopedia dedicated to the institutions, religion, politics, and culture in Muslim societies throughout the world. Placing particular emphasis on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Encyclopaedia Judaica
Providing an exhaustive and organized overview of Jewish life and knowledge from the Second Temple period to the contemporary State of Israel, from Rabbinic to modern Yiddish literature, from Kabbalah to "Americana" and from Zionism to the contribution of Jews to world cultures.
Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World
Rich historical content is partnered with coverage of the issues, countries, and people that are important in todays world, allowing for an assessment of Islams influence on all areas of human activity throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture
The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture is the most comprehensive reference work in this complex and diverse area of art history.
The Qur'an
The volume assumes no previous knowledge of the Qur'an, Islam or Arabic. Technical terms are explained in the text itself and the style of each entry is designed to be as self-contained as possible. Entries are cross-referenced and many include a brief bibliography. At the end of the work there is a substantial annotated bibliography providing a detailed guide to the most significant books, journals and articles in Qur'anic Studies.