The Kurds (an Encyclopedia Of Life, Culture, And Society)

Edited by Maisel Sebastian
Description:

This indispensable resource for Western readers about the Kurds—an ancient indigenous group that exemplifies diversity in the Middle East—examines their history, politics, economics, and social structure.
The Kurds: An Encyclopedia of Life, Culture, and Society provides an insightful examination the Kurds—from their historical beginning to today—through thematic and country-specific essays as well as important primary documents that allow for a greater understanding of the diversity and pluralism of the region. This single-volume work looks at the Kurds from a variety of angles and disciplines, including history, anthropology, economics, religion, geography, and musicology, to cover the ethnic populations of the original Kurdish homeland states as well as of the diaspora.

The book evaluates sources in Kurdish (both Kurmanci and Sorani) in addition to information of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish origin to present broad, up-to-date coverage that will serve nonspecialist readers, high school and college students, and professionals, journalists, politicians, and other decision makers who require accurate perspectives on Kurdish history and culture. Additionally, an entire section of the book provides excerpts of primary sources selected for their importance to Kurdish history and identity. These 20 primary source excerpts are accompanied by introductions and analysis that enable readers to fully appreciate their political, religious, and cultural importance.

Table of contents:

Preface
Introduction
Part I: Thematic Essays
Origins and History
Geography
Political Systems and Parties
Religion
Conflicts and Issues
Social Organization and Family Life
Gender Roles
Housing and Settlements
Life and Work
Education
Language
Literature
Media
Food and Dress
Music
Cinema
Part II: Country Profiles
France
Germany
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Lebanon
Russia and Transcaucasia
Sweden
Syria
Turkey
United States
Part III: Documents
Sharafnama
The Kurdish Shanama
Mem and Zin
Report by the British Consul on the Sheikh Ubeydullah Revolt in 1880–1881
Sureya, Jaladet, and Kamuran Bedirkhan
Treaty of Sèvres, August 10, 1920
Sherif Pasha''s "Memorandum on the Claims of the Kurd People" to the Conference of Peace in Paris on February 6, 1919
Khoybun (also known as Hoybun and Hoyboon)
The Legacy of Qazi Mohamed
The Manifesto of March 11, 1970
The 1975 Algiers Agreement
Hawar
Muhammad Talab Hilal''s 12-Point Memorandum and the Syrian Population Census of 1962
Democratic Confederalism
Krive
Article 140 of the New Iraqi Constitution from 2005
The Social Charta of West Kurdistan (Rojava)
Yezidi Sacred Hymns
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
About the Editor and Contributors
Index

Review quote:
Overall, this is an excellent introductory reference for college-level audiences who have little to no background on the Kurds.
Review quote:
This book is a wellspring of facts and tidbits of a diverse people who practice different varieties of Islamic beliefs and nonbeliefs, bounded by common history, defined by land and group survival. Helpful to the nonspecialist are discussions of relevant belief claims and behavior patterns, and the effect of sacred tradition on the life of the people. Highly recommended.
Review quote:
Well-written and well-presented. . . . Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.
Review quote:
Recomended for Community College, 2018
Biographical note:
Sebastian Maisel, PhD, is associate professor of Arabic and Middle East studies at Grand Valley State Univer