New Book Rewrites Kurdish History

Egypt’s historian Mohamed Refaat El-Emam has released a new book entitled “Kurdish Mountain“ tracing the historical trajectory of the Kurdish people, offering a nuanced account of their identity, geopolitical position, and enduring struggle for self-determination.

Widely regarded as one of the oldest peoples of the Middle East, the Kurds have long remained the largest ethnic group without a centralized state. The book argues that this reality stems from a complex interplay of geographic constraints, social fragmentation, and overlapping regional and international rivalries.

Central to the study is the enduring relationship between the Kurds and their mountainous homeland, spanning the Zagros Mountains, Taurus Mountains, and Mount Ararat. These landscapes are portrayed not merely as physical terrain, but as a defining element of Kurdish identity—offering refuge from imperial domination while fostering a deeply rooted culture of resistance and resilience. This connection is reflected in Kurdish cultural traditions, including the celebration of Nowruz, symbolizing renewal and defiance.

The book situates Kurdish history within broader regional and international contexts, focusing on the period between 1514 and 1914. The narrative opens with the Battle of Chaldiran, a pivotal confrontation that reshaped the region and led to the division of Kurdish territories between the Ottoman and Safavid empires. It concludes with the outbreak of World War I, whose aftermath redrew political boundaries and marked the transition to the modern era.

Throughout this period, Kurdish affairs unfolded largely within the orbit of these competing imperial powers. While eastern Kurdistan remained under Persian control, western regions—formerly governed by the Ottoman Empire—were later partitioned among newly formed nation-states, including Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.

Structured across seven chapters, the book opens with an exploration of Kurdistan’s geography, demographic composition, and geostrategic importance. It then examines the era of Kurdish emirates, highlighting their tribal foundations, socio-economic structures, and evolving relations with Ottoman and Persian authorities.

Subsequent chapters trace the decline of these emirates during the 19th century, driven by centralization campaigns and a series of military confrontations involving both regional and global powers, including Britain and Russia. The study also analyzes the repercussions of major conflicts such as the Crimean War and the broader dynamics of the Eastern Question on Kurdish regions.

Particular attention is given to the policies of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II, notably his use of pan-Islamic strategies and the establishment of the Hamidiye regiments to consolidate imperial authority. In parallel, the book traces the early emergence of Kurdish nationalism and its intersection with constitutional movements in both the Ottoman and Persian spheres.

In its final chapter, the study explores the ideological and political transformations that preceded World War I, including Kurdish uprisings and the significance of the 1913 Constantinople Protocol, which formalized Ottoman–Persian borders and further entrenched the fragmentation of Kurdish lands.

El-Emam underscores the challenges of reconstructing a cohesive Kurdish historical narrative in the absence of a unified state, noting that Kurdish historiography has often been overshadowed by competing imperial and colonial accounts.

By weaving together local dynamics with broader geopolitical shifts, the book offers a rigorous and balanced contribution to the study of Kurdish history—one that continues to resonate with ongoing debates over identity, sovereignty, and regional order in the modern Middle East.