Description
Book SynopsisThe reign of al-Muqtadir (295-320/908-32) is a crucial and controversial epoch in the history of the Abbasid empire. Al-Muqtadir’s regime has traditionally been depicted as one of decline, when the political power of the caliphate and the lustre of its capital began to crumble. This book not only offers a substantial investigation of the idea and reality of decline, but also provides new interpretations of the inner workings of the court and the empire. The authors, four specialists of Abbasid history, explore the formal and informal power relationships that shaped politics at the court, involving bureaucrats, military, harem, courtiers and of course al-Muqtadir himself. A study of the topography of Baghdad completes this vivid picture of the court and its capital.
Trade Review« L’ouvrage est d’une grande qualite formelle et le fil conducteur entre les differents chapitres apparait clairement. L’interet de ce livre reside sans conteste dans le fait qu’il donne a voir et a penser des interactions entre les differentes spheres qui animaient la vie politique sous al-Muqtadir. Ces spheres loin d’etre isolees les unes des autres etaient liees entre elles par des reseaux, que les auteurs se sont attaches a mettre en lumiere. Les auteurs presentent un tableau vivant des mecanismes a l’oeuvre en identifiant les strategies baties par les differents acteurs du regne d’al-Muqtadir. Il en resulte un ouvrage coherent, renouvelant l’approche sur cette periode mouvementee de l’histoire abbasside en inscrivant sa reflexion dans celle des court studies.” Eugénie Rébillard in: Arabica 61 (2014) 613-629. "A lot of thought and effort must have gone into framing this book and there is no doubt that it was worth it." Konrad Hirschler in: Al-Abhath 64 (2016). "This is an excellent book and is deeply rewarding to read. There remains a great deal of work to be done on al-Muqtadir and the structure of the Abbasid state, but these four scholars have lit a clear path forward." John P. Turner in: Early Medieval Europe, 25 (2017).
Table of ContentsIntroduction Time line Map of caliphate Part I 1. The Reign of al-Muqtadir (295-320/908-32): A History, Hugh Kennedy 2. The Caliph, Letizia Osti Part II 3. The Vizier, Maaike van Berkel 4. The Bureaucracy, Maaike van Berkel 5. The Military, Hugh Kennedy Part III 6. The Chamberlains, Nadia Maria El Cheikh 7. The Harem, Nadia Maria El Cheikh 8. Culture, Education and the Court, Letizia Osti General Conclusion Appendix: Baghdad at the Time of al-Muqtadir, Judith Ahola and Letizia Osti Bibliography Index
