History of Al-Tabari, Paperback by Bosworth, Clifford Edmund, Like New Used, ...

Description: History of Al-Tabari, Paperback by Bosworth, Clifford Edmund, ISBN 088706566X, ISBN-13 9780887065668, Like New Used, Free shipping in the US This volume of al-Tabaris History covers nearly a quarter of a century, and after covering the very brief caliphate of al-Hadi, concentrates on that of Harun al-Rashid. During these years, the caliphate was in a state of balance with its external foes; the great enemy, Christian Byzantium, was regarded with respect by the Muslims, and the two great powers of the Near East treated each other essentially as equals, while the Caucasian and Central Asian frontiers were held against pressure from the Turkish peoples of Inner Eurasia. The main stresses were internal, including Shiite risings on behalf of the excluded house of Ali, and revolts by the radical equalitarian Kharijites; but none of these was serious enough to affect the basic stability of the caliphate.

Harun al-Rashids caliphate has acquired in the West, under the influence of a misleading picture from the Arabian Nights, a glowing image as a golden age of Islamic culture and letters stemming from the Caliphs patronage of the exponents of these arts and sciences. In light of the picture of the Caliph which emerges from al-Tabaris pages, however, this image seems to be distinctly exaggerated. Al-Rashid himself does not exhibit any notable signs of administrative competence, military leadership or intellectual interests beyond those which convention demanded of a ruler. For much of his reign, he left the business of government to the capable viziers of the Barmakid family--the account of whose spectacular fall from power forms one of the most dramatic features of al-Tabaris narratives here--and his decision to divide the Islamic empire after his death between his sons was to lead subsequently to a disastrous civil war. Nevertheless, al-Tabaris story is full of interesting sidelights on the lives of those involved in the court circle of the time and on the motivations which impelled medieval Muslims to seek precarious careers there.

A discounted price is available when purchasing the entire 39-volume History of al-Tabari set. Contact SUNY Press for more information.

Price: 43.34 USD

Location: Jessup, Maryland

End Time: 2024-11-14T09:13:10.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD