Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series) - Hardcover

Lindsay, James E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313322708 ISBN 13: 9780313322709

Publisher: Greenwood, 2005

Synopsis

From the time of its birth in Mecca in the 7th century C.E., Islam and the Islamic world rapidly expanded outward, extending to Spain and West Africa in the west, and to Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent in the east. An examination of the daily life in these Islamic regions provides insight into a civilized, powerful, and economically stable culture, where large metropolitan centers such as Damascus, Baghdad, and Cairo thrived in many areas, including intellectual and scientific inquiry. In contrast with medieval Europe, there is little common knowledge in the West of the culture and history of this vibrant world, as different from our own in terms of the political, religious, and social values it possessed, as it is similar in terms of the underlying human situation that supports such values. This book provides an intimate look into the daily life of the medieval Islamic world, and is thus an invaluable resource for students and general readers alike interested in understanding this world, so different, and yet so connected, to our own.

Chapters include discussions of: the major themes of medieval Islamic history; Arabia, the world of Islamic origins; warfare and politics; the major cities of Damascus, Baghdad, and Cairo; religious rituals and worship; and a section on curious and entertaining information. Author James E. Lindsay further provides a focused look at the daily lives of urban Muslims during this time period, and of their interactions with Jews, Christians and other Muslims. Timelines, tables (including a calendar conversion to align the Islamic lunar and the Christian solar dates, and a dynastic table highlighting the major genealogies of the ancient ruling families), a bibliography, and a glossary of important dates and technical terms are also provided to assist the reader.

About this title

About the Author

JAMES E. LINDSAY is Associate Professor of History at Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

Reviews

Grade 9 Up–This volume presents an overview of major themes in medieval Islamic history in the lands between the Nile and Oxus rivers and of daily life in the urban centers of Damascus, Baghdad, and Cairo from the 6th century to 1300 A.D. The chapter Ritual and Worship provides information on the five pillars of Islam and the differences between Sunni and Shi‘i beliefs, and the concluding chapter, Curious and Entertaining Information, describes traditional Arab names, the role of women, children and childhood, and more. A few recipes, genealogical and dynastic tables, and Christian and Islamic calendars with a conversion table are included. The text is detailed and accurate, but its tone is quite scholarly, particularly in the chapters about history and politics, and it would be difficult for the average student to make use of it. Many of the suggestions for further reading would only be available in academic libraries. Purchase where needed for reports.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ
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Edition details

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0313322708
• ISBN 13: 9780313322709
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 324