A Brief History of Basra

"A Brief History of Basra" is a quick and rich window into one of the most ancient cities of Islamic civilization. It was the first Muslim capital outside the Arabian Peninsula, and its name has been associated, since its inception, with conquests, history, and conflict. Ali Zarif Al-A'zami paints a concise, panoramic picture of Basra's history, from its founding by Muslims with the permission of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, through the famous Battle of the Camel and the subsequent unrest an...