Arabia and the Arabs: From the Bronze Age to the Coming of Islam

by Hoyland,Robert G.

• ISBN13: 9780415195355
• ISBN10: 0415195357
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2001-10-12
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Knowledge of pre-Islam Arabia is essential for anyone seeking to understand how Islam arose and the shape it took. Further, knowledge of the cultures, commerce, and conflicts of the Mediterranean from the Bronze Age to Muhammed is fatally incomplete without the inclusion of the Arabs and the vital role they played.Arabia and the Arabsprovides the only up-to-date, one volume survey of the region and its peoples during this period. Using a wide range of sources--inscriptions, poetry, histories, and archaeological evidence--Robert Hoyland explores the main cultural areas of Arabia, from ancient Sheba in the south, to the desert oases of the north. He meticulously traces the major themes in the: *economy *society *religion *art and architecture *language and literature *Arabhood and Arabisation. The text is supplemented by over 50 photographs, drawings, and maps.

Table of Contents

List of plates	viii
List of maps and figures	x
Acknowledgements	xi
Introduction	1	(12)
East Arabia	13	(23)
South Arabia	36	(22)
North and central Arabia	58	(27)
Economy	85	(28)
Society	113	(26)
Religion	139	(28)
Art, architecture and artefacts	167	(31)
Language and literature	198	(31)
Arabhood and Arabisation	229	(19)
Notes	248	(8)
Bibliography	256	(60)
Index	316