Michael Chamberlain focuses on medieval Damascus to develop a new approach to the relationship between the society and culture of the Middle East. The author argues that historians have long imposed European strictures onto societies to which they were alien. Western concepts of legitimate order were inappropriate to medieval Muslim society where social advancement was dependent upon the production of knowledge and religious patronage, and it was the household, rather than the state agency or corporation, that held political and social power. A parallel is drawn between the learned elite and the warriors of Damascus who, through similar strategies, acquired status and power and passed them on in their households. By examining material from the Latin West, Sung China and the Sinicized empires of Inner Asia, the author addresses the nature of political power in the period.
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In the Middle Ages, Damascus was one of the most important cities of Eurasia. Michael Chamberlain focuses on the city to develop a new approach to the relationship between society and culture in the medieval Middle East.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
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This review is from: Knowledge and Social Practice in Medieval Damascus, 1190-1350 (Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization) (Paperback)
This is a fantastic book for the student of history. Very easy read, full of good information and good research.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In the high medieval period, Damascus was larger and richer than most other cities in the Middle East, and its inhabitants exploited a variety of sources of wealth. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
yan households, amiral households, waqf income, scholarly factions, learned shaykhs, powerful amirs, one shaykh, great shaykhs, warrior households, ruling households, urban garrisons, high medieval period, learned elite, civilian elite, such honorifics, military supporters, social honor Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ibn Kathir, Ibn Shakir, Middle East, Latin West, Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Khallikan, Ibn Rajab, Sung China, Ibn Abi, Ibn Abd, Ibn Jama'a, The Rise of Colleges, Abo Shama, Abu Shama, Ibn Qudama, Aba Shama, Abe Shama, Ibn Hajar, Middle Ages, Abü Shama, Ibn Asakir, New York, Ibn Kathlr, Ibn Shaddad, The Thorny Gates of Learning New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In the high medieval period, Damascus was larger and richer than most other cities in the Middle East, and its inhabitants exploited a variety of sources of wealth. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
yan households, amiral households, waqf income, scholarly factions, learned shaykhs, powerful amirs, one shaykh, great shaykhs, warrior households, ruling households, urban garrisons, high medieval period, learned elite, civilian elite, such honorifics, military supporters, social honor Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ibn Kathir, Ibn Shakir, Middle East, Latin West, Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Khallikan, Ibn Rajab, Sung China, Ibn Abi, Ibn Abd, Ibn Jama'a, The Rise of Colleges, Abo Shama, Abu Shama, Ibn Qudama, Aba Shama, Abe Shama, Ibn Hajar, Middle Ages, Abü Shama, Ibn Asakir, New York, Ibn Kathlr, Ibn Shaddad, The Thorny Gates of Learning New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 80
books:
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11
books
cite this book:
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- War in the Middle Ages by Philippe Contamine on 5 pages
- A History of the Crusades, Volume IV: The Art and Architecture of the Crusader States (Art & Architecture of the Crusader States) by Kenneth M. Setton on 5 pages
- Lineages of the Absolutist State by PERRY ANDERSON on 4 pages
- The History of Manners (The Civilizing Process, Vol. 1) by Norbert Elias on 4 pages
- Islamic History by R. Stephen Humphreys in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and Back Matter
See all 80 books this book cites
- The Formation of Islam: Religion and Society in the Near East, 600-1800 (Themes in Islamic History) by Jonathan P. Berkey on 4 pages
- The Rise of Early Modern Science: Islam, China and the West by Toby E. Huff on page 73, page 150, and Back Matter
- Law, Society and Culture in the Maghrib, 1300-1500 (Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization) by David S. Powers on page 183, and Back Matter
- Shi'i Scholars of Nineteenth-Century Iraq: The 'Ulama' of Najaf and Karbala' (Cambridge Middle East Studies) by Meir Litvak in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Ulama in Contemporary Islam: Custodians of Change by Muhammad Qasim Zaman in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
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