Description
Book SynopsisJonathan Berkey's 2005 book surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from 600 to 1800 CE. While the focus of the book is the formation of Islam, the relationship between Islam and other religious traditions is also a central theme. The book is intended for students.
Trade Review'No doubt, the study provides a scholarly treatment of the subject … not only students and lay public would find it interesting and informative, more serious scholars of the subject would also find it worth-reading.' Islamic Studies
'The Formation of Islam makes a significant contribution to what it is hoped will become a prominent strand in Islamicate historiography … the book lucidly charts the incremental formation of the Islamicate state-society complex … an incisive and textured account of the ebb and flow of Islamicate civilisation.' The Muslim World Book Review
'… a fascinating, complex and dynamic plot, that is both chronological and thematic. The narrative is packed with information and interpretations, sometimes conflicting interpretations that challenge the traditional story, or criticize the theory of a particular historical school. But, condensed as it is, Berkey enlivens it with anecdotes, verses of poetry, quotations of hadith or particular scences of medieval life.' Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam
Table of ContentsPart I. The Near East before Islam: 1. Introduction; 2. The religions of late antiquity; 3. Arabia before Islam; 4. The early seventh century; Part II. The Emergence of Islam, 600–750: 5. Approaches and problems; 6. The origins of the Muslim community; 7. Early Islam in the Near East; 8. The Umayyad period; 9. The beginnings of sectarianism; 10. The non-Muslims of early Islam; 11. The 'Abbasid revolution; Part III. The Consolidation of Islam, 750–1000: 12. Issues of Islamic identity; 13. Religion and politics; 14. Shi'ism; 15. The formation of Sunni traditionalism; 16. Asceticism and mysticism; 17. The non-Muslim communities; Part IV. Medieval Islam, 1000–1500: 18. The medieval Islamic Near East; 19. A Sunni 'revival'?; 20. Common patterns in social and political organization; 21. Modes of justice; 22. The transmission of religious knowledge; 23. Sufism; 24. Popular religion; Epilogue: 25. From medieval to modern Islam.
