Religion, Learning and Science in the 'Abbasid Period (The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature) [Paperback]

M. J. L. Young (Editor), J. D. Latham (Editor), R. B. Serjeant (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0521028876 | ISBN-13: 978-0521028875 | Edition: 1

This volume of the Cambridge History of Arabic Literature deals with writings on learned subjects from the 'Abbasid period (8th to 13th centuries AD), the golden age of Arabic literature. These cover a wide area, from philosophy, theology and law, through grammar and lexicography, to mathematics, astronomy and medicine. There are separate chapters on six of the greatest scholars of the period, on the development of translations from Greek into Arabic, and on the Arabic literature of the Christians and Jews who lived under the rule of the 'Abbasid caliphate.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

This volume of The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature deals with writings on learned subjects from the 'Abbasid period (eighth to thirteenth centures AD), the golden age of Arabic literature. These range from philosophy, theology, and law, through grammar and lexicography, to mathematics, astronomy and medicine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 612 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (November 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521028876
• ISBN-13: 978-0521028875
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,923,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indepth collection of Abbasid socio-cultural history, May 9, 2007

By 

Khairunessa R. Dosssani "Khairunessa" (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Religion, Learning and Science in the 'Abbasid Period (The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature) (Paperback)

"Religion, learning and science in the Abbasid period" is a collection of scholarly essays on those categories. Although, largely written by Western scholars in the field, there are some nice essays from non-Western scholars. The chapter on "Arabic grammar" is excellent. The book is revealing in that it shows that Islamic scholarship was eons ahead of its time and certainly centuries ahead of contemporary European societies. The first Arabic dictionary is produced only 700 years ahead of Samuel Johnson's. It aslo shows Islam as a highly intellectual religion and its ability to reconcile both science and religion. Recommend it for anyone wirh a scholarly interest in the field.