The Arabic Historical Tradition & the Early Islamic Conquests: Folklore, Tribal Lore, Holy War

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Boaz Shoshan (Ben Gurion University)

The Arabic Historical Tradition & the Early Islamic Conquests

Folklore, Tribal Lore, Holy War

Boaz Shoshan (Ben Gurion University)

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Hardback

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English

Routledge
08 September 2015

General & world history; Early history: c 500 to c 1450&1500; Islam; Islamic studies

Series: Routledge Studies in Classical Islam

The early Arab conquests pose a considerable challenge to modern-day historians. The earliest historical written tradition emerges only after the second half of the eighth century- over one hundred years removed from the events it contends to describe, and was undoubtedly influenced by the motives and interpretations of its authors. Indeed, when speaking or writing about the past, fact was not the only, nor even the prime, concern of Muslims of old.

The Arabic Historic Tradition and the Early Islamic Conquests presents a thorough examination of Arabic narratives on the early Islamic conquests. It uncovers the influence of contemporary ideology, examining recurring fictive motifs and evaluating the reasons behind their use. Folklore and tribal traditions are evident throughout the narratives, which aimed to promote individual, tribal and regional fame through describing military prowess in the battles for the spread of Islam. Common tropes are encountered across the materials, which all serve a central theme; the moral superiority of the Muslims, which destined them to victory in God’s plan.

Offering a key to the state of mind and agenda of early Muslim writers, this critical reading of Arabic texts would be of great interest to students and scholars of early Arabic History and Literature, as well as a general resource for Middle Eastern History.

By: Boaz Shoshan (Ben Gurion University)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781138918948
ISBN 10: 1138918946
Series: Routledge Studies in Classical Islam
Pages: 198
Publication Date: 08 September 2015
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , A / AS level
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction Chapter 1: Tribal Lore on the Conquests Chapter 2: Tropes of Islamic Superiority Chapter 3: Yarmūk – Another View Chapter 4: ʿUmar in Jerusalem Chapter 5: When Muslims Meet Infidels Chapter 6: The Conquest of Egypt: Ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥakam and Beyond Epilogue

Boaz Shoshan is professor at Ben Gurion University of the Negev where he has also served as chair of the General History department. His research focuses on the historiography of early Islam and the history of the Mamluk period.

Reviews for The Arabic Historical Tradition & the Early Islamic Conquests: Folklore, Tribal Lore, Holy War

"""Shoshan’s inclusion of possible intertextual connections between Arabic-Islamic and Christian sources in his discussion (pp. 65–66) establishes this aspect as an important part of Islamic-Arabic narrativity that should be further explored. The parallel depiction of astrology and scripture as the sources for foreknowledge of Islamic victories among the Sassanians or the Byzantines respectively is also quite strikingly shown."" Georg Leube, Bayreuth, Plekos 19 (2017)"