Medieval Islamic sectarianism /
This book asks readers to re-examine their view of the Islamic world and the development of sectarianism in the Middle East by shining a light on the complexity and diversity of early Islamic society. While Sunni Islam eventually became politically and numerically dominant, Sunni and Shiʻi identitie...
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| Author / Creator: | |
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| Format: | eBook Electronic |
| Language: | English |
| Language notes: | In English. |
| Imprint: | Leeds [England] : Arc Humanities Press, [2019] |
| Series: | Past imperfect (ARC Humanities Press)
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Click here for full text at JSTOR |
| Summary: | This book asks readers to re-examine their view of the Islamic world and the development of sectarianism in the Middle East by shining a light on the complexity and diversity of early Islamic society. While Sunni Islam eventually became politically and numerically dominant, Sunni and Shiʻi identities took centuries to develop as independent communities. When modern discussions of sectarianism in the Middle East reduce these identities to a 1400-year war between Sunnis and Shiʻis, we create a false narrative This book asks readers to re-examine their view of the Islamic world and the development of sectarianism in the Middle East by shining a light on the complexity and diversity of early Islamic society. The focus here is on the tenth century, a period in Middle Eastern history that has often been referred to as the "Shiʿi Century," when two Shiʿi dynasties rose to power: the Fatimids of North Africa and the Buyids of Iraq and Iran. Historians often call the period after the Shiʿi Century the "Sunni Revival" because that was when Sunni control was restored, but these terms present a misleading image of a unified medieval Islam that was predominately Sunni. While Sunni Islam eventually became politically and numerically dominant, Sunni and Shiʿi identities took centuries to develop as independent communities. When modern discussions of sectarianism in the Middle East reduce these identities to a 1400-year war between Sunnis and Shiʿis, we create a false narrative. |
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| Item Description: | Print version record |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (x, 106 pages) : map |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references |
| ISBN: | 1641890835 1641890843 1641899166 9781641890830 9781641890847 9781641899161 |
| Author Notes: | Christine D. Baker is an Assistant Professor of History at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She received both her PhD in Islamic history (2013) and her M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies (2006) from the University of Texas at Austin. |