Medieval Islamic Swords and Swordmaking [Hardcover]

Robert G. Hoyland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0906094526 | ISBN-13: 978-0906094525

The treatise On swords and their kinds was written by the 9th-century Muslim philosopher Ya'qkub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi. This work was commissioned by a powerful patron of scholarship, the Abbasid caliph Mu'tasim, and the content of the treatise presumably reflects the ruler's general interest in his army and its equipment, and his specific interest in the technical aspects of sword production. In this work, Kindi discusses the difference between iron and steel, distinguishes different qualities of sword blade, and different centers of swordsmithing. He refers to the Indian Ocean trade in steel ingots and to the distinctive character of European swords of the period. He includes technical terms used by the makers, and distinguishes swords by their physical features - form, measurements, weight, watered pattern, sculptured details, or inlaid ornaments. This publication includes the text and a translation of Kindi's treatise, and a detailed commentary on the work. The volume also includes translation of Friedrich Schwarzlose's work on swords, which is based on the hundreds of references to swords in early Arabic poetry. Written in German, this extraordinary compendium of information was first published some 120 years ago; this volume makes it available again, and for the first time in English.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 223 pages
• Publisher: Gibb Memorial Trust (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0906094526
• ISBN-13: 978-0906094525
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,399,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome Addition to the History of Metal Working, November 10, 2006

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medieval Islamic Swords and Swordmaking (Hardcover)

Although we have all seen the drawings and tapestries from the middle ages showing Islamic warriors carrying swords, there is very little available on the technical aspects of these weapons.

There are several reasons for this:

Historically we have paid a lot more attention to the history, both political and technological of Europe than we have to the Middle East.

There wasn't a great deal written about such subjects anyway. The technology involved were closely guarded secrets of the family/clan/village that produced the swords. Publishing these secrets would allow others to capitalize on this knowledge.

A lot of the material that was written was lost, or perhaps deliberately destroyed as it did not necessarily reflect on the religious ferver of the people.

This book is a new translation of several documents that were written in the time as well as other documents that were written later but never available before in English. It is, perhaps the best source available, not only on swords, but on the production of iron and steel during the time. The authors are not only translators, but experts on the subject. Their commentary goes a long way to describing the meaning behind the actual translations.

This book is a welcome addition to the library of the history of metalworking.