The Cambridge Illustrated History of the Islamic World

by Francis Robinson

Book Overview

Islamic peoples account for one-fifth of the world's population and yet there is widespread misunderstanding in the West about Islam. Francis Robinson and his team set out to address this, revealing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521435102
• ISBN13: 9780521435109
• Release Date: June 1996
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 3.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 8.4" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

gives an appreciation of Muslim nations and history

Lapidus has assembled a set of authors to write this nicely done summation of the Muslim world. Well accompanied by numerous photos of current Islamic architecture. From Spain to Arabia and further. Plus, there are also centuries-old illustrations of important personages. Notwithstanding the Koranic prohibition against the depiction of the human form. Apparently, in many Muslim societies, that was not strictly adhered to, especially for rulers who wanted their visages immortalised. The book covers both the history and the current state of these societies. Several authors appear to be Muslim, and certainly the tone of the book is strongly sympathetic towards Muslims. Though the book also makes us aware that there is a great variety of opinions and customs amongst Muslims. Not a monolithic bloc. Plus, the long tradition of Muslim scholarship is explained. It helped preserve knowledge when Europe fell into the Dark Ages.

Wonderful Intro to Islamic Culture and Belief

In an age of prejudice towards the Islamic faith, it is nice to see a more accurate and even-handed book covering the Muslim world. This book gives an excellent introduction, going into depth on how the west has viwed the Islamic world, and vice-versca. Then it goes onto the first chapter, where it discusses pre-Islamic Arabia, the life of Mohammad, the Rashidun, the schism between Sunni and Shi'a, and the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. This chapter is especially interesting in laying the framework for the foundations of the Islamic world, as well as the spread of Islam and Arabic culture, and later conversion of non-Arab peoples (most notably the Persians). In the next chapter, the Islamic world from 1000 to 1500 AD is covered, when Islam had spread across the Middle East, west to Spain and west Africa and east towards India and Central Asia. This chapter covers many interesting subjects, such as the Fatimid dynasty, the Crusades, the Mongols, Byzantium and the Turks, and Islamic states in East Asia and Africa. The third chapter covers the period from 1500 to 1800 AD, a period of both great achievements and decline. The Persian, Mongol and Turkish powers are mentioned (such as the Safavids, Mughals and Ottomans), alongside mention of Islam in Africa and elsehwere in Asia (mainly China and Southeast Asia).The subsequent chapter focuses on the 1800s to the present day, and a growing western presence in Islamic lands. This chapter shows how European powers carved up Islamic lands (the French in Syria and north/west Africa, the Brits in Iraq, Palestine, Egypt and South Asia, the Italians in north Africa, Russians in central Asia, etc), and how Islamicist reformer movements arose because of this. Mention is also made of non-colonized states (such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran), and of the emergence of independant Islamic states. The second section of the book goes more into cultural studies, delving into economies, trade routes and social structure within the Islamic world. Mention is made of both historical traderoutes and interconnectedness in the Islamic world, stretching from Morocco to Indonesia, and of modern economies in predominantly Muslim states. In chapter seven, the book explores learning in Islamic societies. Mention is made of the high degree of literacy in Islam, and the many great scientific achievements in medicine, astronomy and mathematics. Mention is also made of the impact of the west on Islamic learning. This is followed by a chapter on the arts in the Islamic world, ranging from calligraphy to architecture to classical Arabic music (including mention of legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kalthum) and everything in between. This is an excellent chapter for understanding and appreciating Islamic culture.The book closes out with a conclusion on Islam in the modern world, relationships with the west, the spread of Islam to every country in the world and crises in Bosnia, Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya. It also has a wonderful timeli