Islamic Societies to the Nineteenth Century describes the transformations of Islamic societies from their beginning in the seventh century through their diffusion across the globe into the nineteenth century. This book is a unique endeavor; its breadth, clarity and thoughtful exposition will ensure its place in the classroom and beyond. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Ira Lapidus is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout his long and illustrious career he has published extensively. His abiding interest has been the relationship between the family, the tribe and the city, and this is exemplified in his current work and previous publications, including Contemporary Islamic Movements in Historical Perspective (1983), Muslim Cities in the Later Middle Ages (1984), Islam, Politics and Social Movements, co-edited with Edmund Burke (1988) and A History of Islamic Societies (1988, 2002). --This text refers to the paperback edition.