Slave Soldiers and Islam: The Genesis of a Military System [Paperback]

Daniel Pipes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1981

Even a cursory glance at the history of Muslim peoples reveals the extraordinary role played by men of slave origins in the armed forces...

Editorial Reviews

Review

On the one hand it is a specialist contribution to the history, particularly the early history, of Islam, on the other it is an important and original contribution to the growing corpus of military sociology... an original book on an important subject... with an intelligence and certainty of purpose which ensures its appeal to scholars far beyond the margins of Islamic studies. --John Keegan, The Times (London), December 18, 1981

Interesting and informative... an important contribution to our knowledge of early Islamic society. He begins with a useful and comprehensive survey... Pipes has unearthed some valuable new material, for which he deserves credit, and has shed light on an important aspect of Islamicate societies... through this book Pipes has made some original, sizeable contributions to Islamic studies. --Stephanie White, International Journal of Middle East Studies, 1983

This vital and creative work will serve as an important stimulus to further debate on the nature of medieval Islamic institutions. --Fedwa Malti-Douglas, The Middle East Journal, Spring 1982

About the Author

Daniel Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube/Diller distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. CBS Sunday Morning says he was years ahead of the curve in identifying the threat of radical Islam. Unnoticed by most Westerners, he wrote for example in 1995, war has been unilaterally declared on Europe and the United States. The Boston Globe states that If Pipes's admonitions had been heeded, there might never have been a 9/11.

Product Details

• Paperback: 247 pages
• Publisher: Yale Univ Press; Second edition (March 1, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300024479
• ISBN-13: 978-0300024470
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,063,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT FOR THE FAINING INTEREST, July 16, 2005

By 

B. BOESENBERG "REPTILED" (WANAQUE, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Slave Soldiers and Islam: The Genesis of a Military System (Paperback)

If you'd like to know how the unique system of military slavery grew up in Medieval Islam, what it's roots were, the language basis for believing this and the relative importance in each case that can be documented. This book is strictly for students and professors in the field.

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Critics on Slave Soldiers and Islam, August 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Slave Soldiers and Islam: The Genesis of a Military System (Paperback)

"On the one hand it is a specialist contribution to the history, particularly the early history, of Islam, on the other it is an important and original contribution to the growing corpus of military sociology... an original book on an important subject... with an intelligence and certainty of purpose which ensures its appeal to scholars far beyond the margins of Islamic studies."
- John Keegan, The Times (London), December 18, 1981

"His book has an attractiveness of argumentation, grounded on the necessary solid research, that makes it a stimulating contribution to Islamic historical studies."
- C. E. Bosworth, American Historical Review, 1982

"This vital and creative work will serve as an important stimulus to further debate on the nature of medieval Islamic institutions."
- Fedwa Malti-Douglas, The Middle East Journal, Spring 1982

"This book is a fascinating and closely researched account of the rise of the military slave system in early Islam. Portions of the work appeared previously in the Journal of Turkish Studies and the Journal of Strategic Studies, suggesting its broad appeal."
- Orbis: A Journal of World Affairs, Spring 1982

"This thought-provoking book... carefully reasoned... students of Islam, the Middle East, and military institutions will all profit from this stimulating book."
- Donald M. Reid, Military Affairs, April 1982

"Interesting and informative... an important contribution to our knowledge of early Islamic society. He begins with a useful and comprehensive survey... Pipes has unearthed some valuable new material, for which he deserves credit, and has shed light on an important aspect of Islamicate societies... through this book Pipes has made some original, sizeable contributions to Islamic studies."
- Stephanie White, International Journal of Middle East Studies, 1983

"Copiously documented arguments which are stimulating, even provocative... the fullest discussion of military slavery in medieval Islamic civilization to appear thus far."
- Donald P. Little, Muslim World, 1983

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One of the Worst Books about Islam, December 21, 2007

By 

H. Hamad - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Slave Soldiers and Islam: The Genesis of a Military System (Paperback)

This book is Filled with obvious lies about Islam, the true pure fundamentals of Islam are very twisted in this book with a clear purpose of deviating people. If you want to learn about Muslims go to a Muslim, not a hate filled Christian like Daniel Pipe.