Ways in to the Text Who was Hanna Batatu? What does The Old Social Classes And The Revolutionary Movements Of Iraq Say? Why does The Old Social Classes Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

Dr Dale Stahl holds a doctorate in history from Columbia University for research on the politics of Iraq between 1920 and 1975. He currently teaches in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Denver, Colorado.

First published in 1978, Batatu's extraordinarily detailed text is considered the definitive social history of twentieth century Iraq. It uses both unique primary sources and detailed oral histories to examine the changing cultural, social, economic and political landscape that led to revolution.