The African And Middle Eastern World, 600-1500

by Pouwels, Randall L.

• ISBN13: 9780195176735
• ISBN10: 0195176731
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-08-25
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The history of the African and Middle Eastern world is, to some extent, the story of a religion. First proclaimed by the prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, Islam claimed millions of followers. Through trade, conquest, and diplomacy, Muslim rule spread quickly from the Arabian Peninsula to Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. But not everyone in this world practiced Islam. Muslim rulers respected Jewish and Christian traditions. And despite their empire's long reach, the caliphs' power never extended over most Africans, such as the Bini of the West African forest or the Shona of Southern Africa, who lived by local custom and beliefs.

Author Biography

Randall L. Pouwels is a Professor of History at the University of Central Arkansas. His books include World Civilizations Volume I and II and History of Islam in Africa.

Table of Contents

Cast of Characters	p. 8
Map of the African and Middle Eastern World	p. 10
Introduction	p. 12
Camels, Caravans, and the Ka'ba: The Arabian Peninsula Around 600	p. 15
On the Road Again-and Again
Gods on the Go: Worshipping Idols
Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography of Cosmas, an Egyptian Monk, 548
The Messenger of Allah: Muhammad and the Beginning of Islam	p. 24
Wanted: Prophet and Preacher
The Move to Medina
Muhammad ibn Ishaq, Biography of the Messenger of God, 8th century
The Sword of Allah: The Islamic Expansion	p. 35
Umar Rules
The Smell of Water
Ahmad ibn-Jabir al-Baladhuri, The Origins of the Islamic State, 9th century
Managing the Empire: Islam Grows into an Empire of Faith	p. 45
Family Favorites and Bitter Factions
Ali's End
Ibn Battuta, Travels in Asia and Africa, 14th century
The House of Islam: The First Worldwide Civilization	p. 55
Building Baghdad
Revolts and Rebellions: Kharijites and Shiites
Yaqut bin Abdallah al-Hamawi, Geographical Dictionary, 13th century
Living by the Rules: Ulama and Philosophers	p. 68
Religion and Reason
Sufism Takes Shape
Al-Tabari, History of al-Tabari, 9th century
Houses of Wisdom: Islamic Arts and Sciences	p. 77
Measuring the Earth: Astronomy, Medicine, and the Sciences
"A Book of Verse-and Thou": Islamic Arts and Letters
"The Tale of King Sindbad and the Falcon," The Thousand and One Nights, 10th-14th centuries
Now It's Istanbul, Not Constantinople: The Ottoman Empire	p. 91
Cannons Rule the Day
Suleyman, How Magnificent!
Ambassador Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, Letters, 1554-1562
Where Gold Grows As Carrots Do: Ghana and the African Grasslands	p. 103
Caravans and Kingdoms: Trade Gives Rise to Ghana
West Africa Finds Allah-and Learns a New Language
Muhammad Ibn Hawqal, Description of the World, 980
Saddlebags Stuffed With Gold: The Empires of Mali and Songhay	p. 114
Muslims Speaking Mandinka
The Songhay Fight Back
Griot of Mali, The Epic of Sundiata, 13th century
Onis and Obas: The Forest Kings of West Africa	p. 129
River Routes and Forest Paths
Ife's Offspring and the Obas of Benin
Benin oral tradition, around 12th century, recorded by Chief Jacob Egharevba, A Short History of Benin, 1934
There's Treasure in Those Hills!: Great Zimbabwe and the Shona of Southern Africa	p. 138
City Made of Stone: Great Zimbabwe
Of Kings and Gold Miners
Hymn to Mwari, Rain God of the Shona, sometime after 600
The Emperor's Giraffe: East Africa's Swahili Coast	p. 148
Swahili Days
Golden Age of City-States
Joao de Barros, Da Asia, around 1580
Epilogue	p. 159
Glossary	p. 161
Timeline	p. 164
Further Reading	p. 166
Websites	p. 169
Index	p. 170
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