Islam : An Historical Introduction

Contents: Preface. Note on the transliteration. 1. Introduction: the concept and unity of Islamic history. 2. Europe and Islam: The history of Islamic studies in the West. 3. Islam: religion and legal system. 4. The Islamic world: society and economy. 5. A regional view of Islamic history. 6. Periods of Islamic history. 7. Appendix: languages, names and the calendar of Islam. 8. Chronological table. 9. Bibliography. Index.

"This highly acclaimed survey provides a thoughtful and concise account of all aspects of Islam in history. Following an appraisal of the study of Islam, Gerhard Endress guides the reader through key elements.

Religion (including the Revelation of the prophet Muhammad and the development of doctrine in its historical setting). Law and the state in medieval Islam. Social and economic aspects of medieval Islam. The historical development of each of the main regions of the Islamic world (the Arabian peninsula: Syria and Palestine: Iraq: Spain: North Africa: Egypt: Iran: Anatolia). The principal trends and major periods of Islamic history. The development of Arabic, Persian and Turkish languages. Names and titles. The Muslim calendar." (jacket)