Description
Book SynopsisIn the 9th century, a secret sect of the Ismā‘īlīs -- known in the Middle Ages under the name of Fatimids -- arose to play a prominent role in the history of the Near East. Their supreme head today is the Agha Khan. In this mesmerising book, Heinz Halm describes the early history of the Fatimids, from the founding and spread of the secret society to the rise of the caliphal dynasty to power in North Africa and the founding of Cairo, their capital.
Trade Review'Grammarians, linguists, Semiticists, Ethiopianists, students, and curious speakers of Amharic will be well and long served by this exemplary work. For advanced students of the language, it will become an indispensable tool.' Grover Hudson, Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1998. Good news: Heinz Halm's excellent outline of the early history of the Fāṭimids is now available in English...The impression that this volume, despite its high scholarly claim, almost appears like a 'best-seller', may be acknowledged with pleasure by everybody expecting from a book in the non-fictional area, in addition to new insights and an increase of knowledge, also a fair deal of literary entertainment. Sebastian Günther, Bibliotheca Orientalis, 1998.
