The Umayyad State in the Levant was one of the most controversial books upon its publication in 1927, not only for its content, but also because it reopened the file of one of the most sensitive periods in Islamic history. Historian Anis Zakaria Al-Nasouli chose to offer a broad and comprehensive reading of the history of the Umayyad state, the second caliphate in Islam, covering its founding by Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, its expansion through the amazing conquests east and west, and the flourishing of its civilization in Damascus, which transformed into a capital luxuriant in science, art, and politics. The author also in-depth discusses the nature of Umayyad society, including its tribal and cultural intermingling, and examines the factors that led to its downfall and the end of its glory. Despite the sharp objections it provoked in Shiite circles, especially in Iraq, the book remains an important historical reference for understanding the achievements of the Umayyad state and its internal and external conflicts, and for contemplating how the Islamic caliphate transformed from its initial simplicity into a vast empire.

أنيس زكريا النصولي (1902–1962م) مؤرخ وكاتب لبناني. كتب عن تاريخ الإسلام والعرب في الأندلس. عُرف بأسلوبه الأكاديمي الموثق. وكان من الوجوه البارزة في الدراسات التاريخية الحديثة.