Civilizations Past and Present ; written by specialists in Islamic; African; Asian; Ancient; and East European history— offers a clear and accessible analysis of diverse trends shaping world history.Civilizations Past and Present; now in its Twelfth Edition; is a survey text well known in the marketplace for its readability; offering a strong narrative exploration of world history that examines details at levels appropriate for both students and instructors. The book’s narrative–enriched by photographs; maps; primary source documents; timelines; and other pedagogical aids–places great emphasis on the connections between the world’s many cultures and regions. The book uses intriguing avenues of historical interpretation and examines all of the major areas of historical study: social; political; economic; religious; cultural; and geographic.
#4131332 in Books G E von Grunebaum 2005-05-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .59 x 5.98l; .93 #File Name: 0202307670260 pagesClassical Islam A History 600 A D to 1258 A D
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I'm sure the information in this book is good and the author is an expert in the subject ...By HotmannI'm sure the information in this book is good and the author is an expert in the subject matter.BUT; it is very hard to read .... with one sentence after the another being awkward and overly complicated.There is barley a simple; easy to understand sentence in the whole book and I wonder if it was even edited.I read the 1st (pre-Islamic Arabia) and the 2nd (Muhammad) chapters and then gave up.I was disappointed because I am really interested in the birth of Islam; but I will have to find a more "user friendly" sourceIt seems like the author has written this book for (and to impress) other Islamic scholars rather then the general reading public.I think this was translated from German and that might be a big part if the problem; but even the original language and interpretation are not made clear in this confusing and difficult tome.3 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Classical Islam (pre-1258)By William Garrison Jr.Classical Islam. From the book: The period from 610 A.D. when Muhammad received his 'call' until the conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258 is known as the 'classical' period of Islam. The author examines the relationships; both cultural and political; between the Islamic world and the Mediterranean countries and India and elaborates on the economic; social; and intellectual factors and forces that shaped the Muslim world and molded its interaction with 'infidels.' To the Muslim; man has declined below the measure of the heroic ancestors; their greatness is as much and incentive as an embarrassment. What terminates in 1258 is the major chain of political legitimacy to which reality had failed to conform for rather more than four centuries when the extent of the Muslim empire had ceased to be coterminous with the rule of Islam and the unity of tradition had become no more than a postulate. Chapters: 1-Pre-Islamic Arabia; 2-Muhammad; 3-External power and internal division; 4-the Umayyads; 5-the Abasids; 6-Islamic society and social-religious movements; 7-Egypt under the Fatimids and Tulunids; 8-the Arab West; 9-The Horizon of Islam: Theology; Philosophy; Literature; 10-the downfall of the caliphate; 11-the Latin States; 12-Divisions in the Islamic world; 13-Religiuous reform and Berber nationalism; 14-Withdrawal and mysticism at the end of the caliphate.
