Bread from Stones a highly anticipated book from historian Keith David Watenpaugh breaks new ground in analyzing the theory and practice of modern humanitarianism Genocide and mass violence human trafficking and the forced displacement of millions in the early twentieth century Eastern Mediterranean form the background for this exploration of humanitarianism s role in the history of human rights Watenpaugh s unique and provocative examination of humanitarian thought and action from a non Western perspective goes beyond canonical descriptions of relief work and development projects Employing a wide range of source materials literary and artistic responses to violence memoirs and first person accounts from victims perpetrators relief workers and diplomats Watenpaugh argues that the international answer to the inhumanity of World War I in the Middle East laid the foundation for modern humanitarianism and the specific ways humanitarian groups and international organizations help victims of war care for trafficked children and aid refugees Bread from Stones is required reading for those interested in humanitarianism and its ideological institutional and legal origins as well as the evolution of the movement following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the advent of late colonialism in the Middle East