Reading lists on early Arab history

[BarakzaiAbdali]

Deleted

[BarakzaiAbdali]

I would agree. However, he leveled the accusation above. He should have to account for making bold sweeping statements about folks being pan islamists, terrorists, radicals, non pashtoons, panjabis, and yet not having a basic understanding of the tribal structure or islamic history. He needs to cite his sources and generate a bibliography. Furthermore, he and Khyaal made absurd comments that a common Abdali pedigree chart was incorrect because it was posted on a navy site. This is simply to invite other Abdali Pashtoons (Fofalzai, Ishaqzai, Achakzai, Barakzai, Alikozai, Alizai) to comment and determine where the Muhammadzai lineage falls.

[Toramana]

"A History of Arabs" by Philip K. Hitti compiled from classical sources of Islamic theology and history...that will give you some sound insight into Islamist history....

[BarakzaiAbdali]

"A History of Arabs" by Philip K. Hitti compiled from classical sources of Islamic theology and history...that give you some sound insight about Islamist history....

Ill take a look at it. I still question your judgement on the Barakzai tribe regardless though. Seriously though, my apologies for the low blow. I should not have gone there.

[Toramana]

Ill take a look at it. I still question your judgement on the Barakzai tribe regardless though. Seriously though, my apologies for the low blow. I should not have gone there.

Don't have good knowledge of tribal trees and affiliations...

[BarakzaiAbdali]

Don't have good knowledge of tribal trees and affiliations...

No big deal, its generally useless knowledge here in the states anyway.

[BarakzaiAbdali]

Can someone tell me how to remove this thread? It was a bad call on my part.

[Laila]

Well if you want a mod or admin to close it....all you gotta do is ask them to do it

[BarakzaiAbdali]

Thanks, I just sent a message to Admin Khan. Hopefully this act should improve the general learning environment. I am sure that the exchange of ideas and quality of interaction will improve with this.

[Alchemist]

"A History of Arabs" by Philip K. Hitti compiled from classical sources of Islamic theology and history...that will give you some sound insight about Islamist history....

You keep recommending this book over and over so I thought I'd buy. I checked it out on Amazon and it all has is bad reviews:

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars A poor effort, March 18, 2008
By
Gogol (England) - See all my reviews


This review is from: History of the Arabs, Revised: 10th Edition (Paperback)
For a long time Hourani and Hittis books were the standard reads for anyone wishing to have a book that would provide them with a brief introduction to Arab history. Even so, traditionally Hittis has been advised to approach with caution due to a number of errors that anyone with knowledge of Arab and/or Middle Eastern history would be able to discover.

I must say I found it interesting that two previous reviewers received so many negative points on their reviews especially one that did nothing more than point out the inaccuracies of the book. I can only assume that those who placed a negative to that review are unhappy with the fact that Hittis shortcomings as a scholar are so easily discovered that an amazon customer can find them.

That religion should not be an issue regarding this book is obvious. Both Hitti and Hourani are Arab Christians from Lebanon. Both taught in the United States and both published their books primarily aimed at an American audience.

I find however, a difference between the two men is that Hitti appears to have sacrificed scholarship for popularity and his book rather panders to established stereotypes rather than fact. For Hittis book never shys away from his staunch Lebanese nationalism so much so that reading the first few chapters of the book can become tiresome at reading such nonsense. If one wants to believe in a Lebanon cradle of civilization then so be it but please don't try and impose your opinions on us who are neither interested or care.

Hittis book provides the reader with a history of the Arabs from their bedouin origins through to the birth of Muhammad and the rise of the Islamic religion, the Islamic conquests and great Islamic empires of the Umayyads and Abbasids. As usual with popular books of this kind it deals briefly with Islamic Spain and Sicily.

Also typical to these kinds of books a brief history of the crusades is given where Hitti considers it an era of cross pollination of cultures a sort of first 'East meets West' That there were Arab and Turkish quarters in Constantinople (a traveller to Istanbul today can see the resting place of Arab diplomats from those early centuries) and in Russia. That until the 9th or 10th century Andalusia was not even predominantly Muslim are all fact ignored.

The Mamaluks are seen as an extension of Arabism (Even though they were Turks!) In the face of 'Turkish' Ottoman rule. The rise of Western powers, colonialism, renaissance of Arab thought etc all the usual that one may expect from a book published many decades ago. The problem is this book has been republished numerous times so you would expect someone to have edited and ironed out the obvious faults in this book.

any better recommendations? or is this all u read?

[BarakzaiAbdali]

You keep recommending this book over and over so I thought I'd buy. I checked it out on Amazon and it all has is bad reviews:




any better recommendations? or is this all u read?

I thought Gibbons chapters in the Decline of the Roman Empire were somewhat marred with an orientalists view as was his Rise and Fall of the Saracen Empire. However, they are valuable in that they were written long ago enough, and by a prominant scholar enough, that they are not marred by the modern tug authors feel to appeal to the American psyche.

However, on the other side of things, the primary sources themselves, like Tabari are not bad at all. I mean the fact that Tabari recorded the false stories floating around about the Satanic Verses does him great justice as someone that attempted to be a recorder or reporter of what was around him. He does note that the story lacks an isnaad.