Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power

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Overview

In its first thousand years-from the revelations to Muhammad in the seventh century to the great Islamic empires of the sixteenth-Islamic civilization flourished. While Europeans suffered through the Dark Ages, Muslims in such cities as Jerusalem, Damascus, Alexandria, Fez, Tunis, Cairo, and Baghdad made remarkable advances in philosophy, science, medicine, literature, and art. This engrossing and accessible book explores the first millennium of Islamic culture, shattering stereotypes and enlightening readers about the events and achievements that have shaped contemporary Islamic civilization. Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair examine the rise of Islam, the life of Muhammad, and the Islamic principles of faith. They describe the golden age of the Abbasids, the Mongol invasions, and the great Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires that emerged in their wake. Their narrative, complemented by excerpts of the Koran, poetry, biographies, inscriptions, travel guides, and even a thirteenth-century recipe, concludes with a brief epilogue that takes us to the twenty-first century. Colorfully illustrated, this book is a wonderful introduction to the rich history of a civilization that still radically affects the world.

Author Biography: Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair are the Norma Jean Calderwood University Professors of Islamic and Asian Art at Boston College. They have written or contributed to many books on the history of Islamic art and architecture and recently served as principal consultants for Gardner Films' acclaimed PBS documentary, Islam: Empire of Faith, for which this book was the companion volume.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

During its first millennium, Islamic civilization flourished. From its founding during the 7th century to the 16th century, Islamic culture made significant advances in science, medicine, philosophy, literature, and art. In this scholarly yet accessible book, the coauthors examine the rise of Islam, the life of Muhammad, and the contributions of Islamic culture. The text includes both narrative and excerpts from primary documents.

John L. Esposito

A timely study and important background to understanding the faith of more than one-fifth of the world’s population today.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780300094220
Publisher: Yale University Press
Publication date: 2/1/2002
Edition description: New Edition
Edition number: 1
Pages: 304
Sales rank: 696,144
Product dimensions: 4.98 (w) x 7.88 (h) x 0.80 (d)

	A Note on Terminology	7
	Introduction	9
I	Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, 600-750	17
1	The World at the Rise of Islam	19
2	Muhammad and the Revelation of Islam	27
3	The Sources of Faith	35
4	Muhammad's Successors	49
5	The Spread of Islamic Power	65
II	The Golden Age, 750-1250	77
6	The Crucible	79
7	City and Country	103
8	The Flowering of Intellectual Life	119
III	The Age of Empires, 1250-1700	157
9	Regional Powers	159
10	Consolidation	181
11	Expansion	221
	Epilogue	233
	Glossary	241
	Notes for Further Reading	245
	References	251
	Index	259
	About the Authors	269

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