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In the past four decades since the field of late antique studies
began to gather real momentum, scholars have debated the place of
early Islam within the late antique world, particularly in relation
to the issue of where and when 'Late Antiquity' ends. Although the
Sasanian empire (in what is now modern Iran) became equally
powerful as the Byzantine empire, and the two often forged their
characters and practices on the basis of their relations with each
other, that has rarely translated into equal coverage for the
eastern part of the late antique world in studies of the period.
Late Antiquity: Eastern Perspectives aims to redress this balance
and situate Iran with the broader world of this era. Eight papers
serve as case studies for considering narratives and perspectives
other than those emanating from Byzantium or, more generally, 'the
West'. They demonstrate the potential of eastern source-material,
particularly James Howard-Johnston's double-length article which
produces a detailed reconstruction of the Sasanian army.
Does history matter? This book argues not that history matters, but
that Islamic history does. This Very Short Introduction introduces
the story of Islamic history; the controversies surrounding its
study; and the significance that it holds - for Muslims and for
non-Muslims alike. Opening with a lucid overview of the rise and
spread of Islam, from the seventh to twenty first century, the book
charts the evolution of what was originally a small, localised
community of believers into an international religion with over a
billion adherents. Chapters are also dedicated to the peoples -
Arabs, Persians, and Turks - who shaped Islamic history, and to
three representative institutions - the mosque, jihad, and the
caliphate - that highlight Islam's diversity over time. Finally,
the roles that Islamic history has played in both religious and
political contexts are analysed, while stressing the unique status
that history enjoys amongst Muslims, especially compared to its
lowly place in Western societies where history is often seen as
little more than something that is not to be repeated. Some of the
questions that will be answered are: * How did Islam arise from the
obscurity of seventh century Arabia to the headlines of twenty
first century media? * How do we know what we claim to know about
Islam's rise and development? * Why does any of this matter, either
to Muslims or to non-Muslims? ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short
Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds
of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books
are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our
expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and
enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly
readable.
Veiling Esther, Unveiling Her Story: The Reception of a Biblical
Book in Islamic Lands examines the ways in which the Biblical Book
of Esther was read, understood, and used in Muslim lands, from
ancient to modern times. It focuses on case studies covering works
from various periods and regions of the Muslim world, including the
Qur'an, pre-modern historical chronicles and literary works, the
writings of a nineteenth-century Shia feminist, a twentieth-century
Iranian encyclopaedia, and others. These case studies demonstrate
that Muslim sources contain valuable materials on Esther, which
shed light both on the Esther story itself and on the Muslim
peoples and cultures that received it. Adam J. Silverstein argues
that Muslim sources preserve important pre-Islamic materials on
Esther that have not survived elsewhere, some of which offer
answers to ancient questions about Esther, such as the meaning of
Haman's epithet in the Greek versions of the story, the reason why
Mordecai refused to prostrate before Haman, and the literary
context of the 'plot of the eunuchs' to kill the Persian king.
Throughout the book, Silverstein shows how each author's cultural
and religious background influenced his or her understanding and
retelling of the Esther story. In particular, he highlights that
Persian Muslims (and Jews) were often forced to reconcile or choose
between the conflicting historical narratives provided by their
religious and cultural heritages respectively.
The Oxford Handbook of the Abrahamic Religions includes
authoritative yet accessible studies on a wide variety of topics
dealing comparatively with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as
well as with the interactions between the adherents of these
religions throughout history. The comparative study of the
Abrahamic Religions has been undertaken for many centuries. More
often than not, these studies reflected a polemical rather than an
ecumenical approach to the topic. Since the nineteenth century, the
comparative study of the Abrahamic Religions has not been pursued
either intensively or systematically, and it is only recently that
the comparative study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam has
received more serious attention. This volume contributes to the
emergence and development of the comparative study of the Abrahamic
religions, a discipline which is now in its formative stages. This
Handbook includes both critical and supportive perspectives on the
very concept of the Abrahamic religions and discussions on the role
of the figure of Abraham in these religions. It features 32 essays,
by the foremost scholars in the field, on the historical
interactions between Abrahamic communities; on Holy Scriptures and
their interpretation; on conceptions of religious history; on
various topics and strands of religious thought, such as monotheism
and mysticism; on rituals of prayer, purity, and sainthood, on love
in the three religions and on fundamentalism. The volume concludes
with three epilogues written by three influential figures in the
Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities, to provide a broader
perspective on the comparative study of the Abrahamic religions.
This ground-breaking work introduces readers to the challenges and
rewards of studying these three religions together.
Adam Silverstein's book offers a fascinating account of the
official methods of communication employed in the Near East from
pre-Islamic times through the Mamluk period. Postal systems were
set up by rulers in order to maintain control over vast tracts of
land. These systems, invented centuries before steam-engines or
cars, enabled the swift circulation of different commodities - from
letters, people and horses to exotic fruits and ice. As the
correspondence transported often included confidential reports from
a ruler's provinces, such postal systems doubled as
espionage-networks through which news reached the central
authorities quickly enough to allow a timely reaction to events.
The book sheds light not only on the role of communications
technology in Islamic history, but also on how nomadic culture
contributed to empire-building in the Near East. This is a
long-awaited contribution to the history of pre-modern
communications systems in the Near Eastern world.
Adam Silverstein's book offers a fascinating account of the
official methods of communication employed in the Near East from
pre-Islamic times through the Mamluk period. Postal systems were
set up by rulers in order to maintain control over vast tracts of
land. These systems, invented centuries before steam-engines or
cars, enabled the swift circulation of different commodities - from
letters, people and horses to exotic fruits and ice. As the
correspondence transported often included confidential reports from
a ruler's provinces, such postal systems doubled as
espionage-networks through which news reached the central
authorities quickly enough to allow a timely reaction to events.
The book sheds light not only on the role of communications
technology in Islamic history, but also on how nomadic culture
contributed to empire-building in the Near East. This is a
long-awaited contribution to the history of pre-modern
communications systems in the Near Eastern world.
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