The Formation of Islam
The Formation of Islam
Jonathan Berkey surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from approximately 600 to 1800 c.e. After examining the religious scene in the Near East in late antiquity, he investigates Islam's first century, the "classical" period from the accession of the Abbasids to the rise of the Buyid amirs. He then traces the emergence of new forms of Islam in the middle period, deftly showing how Islam emerged slowly as part of a prolonged process.
- n accessible and comprehensive survey of the religious history of the Near East from 600 through 1800•while the focus is on the formation of Islam, another central motif is the relationship of Islam to other religious traditions•for students and general readers as a portal to further study
Reviews & endorsements
"Berkey provides a well-synthesized basis for the understanding of Islamic history on a broad basis. He has drawn on a significant range of scholarship and has provided extensive footnotes which will help students in their research work in secondary sources." Canadian Journal of History
"...a vital aid to academics and advanced students alike." American Historical Review
"A well-written and insightful presentation of Islam's historical development...Highly recommended." Choice
Product details
December 2004Adobe eBook Reader
9780511059490
0 pages
0kg
3 maps
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Part I. The Near East before Islam:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The religions of late antiquity
- 3. Arabia before Islam
- 4. The early seventh century
- Part II. The Emergence of Islam, 600–750:
- 5. Approaches and problems
- 6. The origins of the Muslim community
- 7. Early Islam in the Near East
- 8. The Umayyad period
- 9. The beginnings of sectarianism
- 10. The non-Muslims of early Islam
- 11. The 'Abbasid revolution
- Part III. The Consolidation of Islam, 750–1000:
- 12. Issues of Islamic identity
- 13. Religion and politics
- 14. Shi'ism
- 15. The formation of Sunni traditionalism
- 16. Asceticism and mysticism
- 17. The non-Muslim communities
- Part IV. Medieval Islam, 1000–1500:
- 18. The medieval Islamic Near East
- 19. A Sunni 'revival'?
- 20. Common patterns in social and political organization
- 21. Modes of justice
- 22. The transmission of religious knowledge
- 23. Sufism
- 24. Popular religion
- Epilogue:
- 25. From medieval to modern Islam.
