The study of early Islamic history has flourished in recent years. Chase Robinson's book takes full account of the latest research, interweaving history and historiography to interpret the political, social, and economic transformations in the Mesopotamian region after the Islamic conquests. Using Arabic and Syriac sources, the author focuses on the Muslim and Christian ?lites, demonstrating that significant social change took place only at the end of the seventh century. This is a sophisticated study at the cutting-edge of a burgeoning field in Islamic studies.
Author(s): Chase F. Robinson
Series: Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 224
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 4
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Dedication......Page 7
Contents......Page 9
Preface......Page 10
Acknowledgements......Page 15
Abbreviations......Page 16
Note on dates and citations......Page 17
ONE Conquest history and its uses......Page 19
Treaties: forms and functions......Page 24
Christian conquest accounts......Page 33
Administration and apologia......Page 38
Conclusions......Page 46
TWO The seventh-century Jazira......Page 51
Mosul and the Jazira......Page 54
Edessa and Nisibis......Page 59
Taxation......Page 62
The Second Fitna and its consequences......Page 68
Christian authority in the Sufyanid Jazira......Page 72
Conclusion: Sufyanid concerns......Page 77
THREE From garrison to city: the birth of Mosul......Page 81
The post-conquest site......Page 90
The birth of the city......Page 95
The character and consequences of Marwanid building......Page 104
FOUR Christian élites in the Mosuli hinterland: the shaharija......Page 108
The shaharija of the north: geography and taxes......Page 109
The shaharija: Christology and history......Page 116
The shaharija of the Sasanian period......Page 120
FIVE Islam in the north: Jaziran Kharijism......Page 127
Origins......Page 129
Salih b. Musarrih and Shabıb b. Yazıd......Page 132
Causes and consequences......Page 139
SIX Massacre and narrative: the Abbasid Revolution in Mosul I......Page 145
Some themes......Page 149
Responsibility and narrative......Page 154
Diffusion, transmission and evidence for other reconstructions......Page 159
SEVEN Massacre and élite politics: the Abbasid Revolution in Mosul II......Page 165
The city élite and its politics......Page 170
Conclusion......Page 183
Islamic......Page 190
Christian......Page 194
Secondary literature......Page 196
Index......Page 218
