As part of the Midan Mounira conferences cycle, the great historian Henry Laurens presents his latest book where he delivers the quintessence of his long experience: a deep reflection on writing history, notably the writing of history by the West, the relationship between knowledge and power, and the role of the historian. Henry Laurens holds the Chair of Contemporary History of the Arab World at the College of France. He authored over twenty reference books, including L’expédition d’Égypte (1798-1801) Paris, ed. Armand Colin, 1989 (reissue by Le Seuil in 1997)^, La Question de Palestine, ed. Fayard, 1999-2015, 5 volumes, Histoire du monde arabe contemporain, Paris, ed. Fayard/College of France, 2004, Les crises d’Orient, ed. Fayard, 2017-2019, 2 tomes.