Michael Cook, Class of 1943 University Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton, and author, delves into the rich history of the Muslim world. He discusses the evolution of Islamic civilization and the rise of the caliphate, detailing the roles of key figures like Muhammad and early caliphs. Cook examines the complexities of cultural identity beyond religious lines, and the profound impact of Persian literature on national identity. He also navigates the shifting perspectives between Muslims and Europeans and the intricate geopolitical ties between Iran and Israel.
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insights INSIGHT
Muslim vs Islamic Distinction
Michael Cook distinguishes 'Muslim' from 'Islamic' to highlight cultural diversity within Muslim communities.
This distinction helps understand why not all practices by Muslims reflect Islamic doctrine strictly.
insights INSIGHT
Late Antiquity Middle East Context
Late antiquity Middle East had empires with state religions and tribal Arabia lacked such structures.
Arabia's tribal and tolerant religious setup created fertile ground for Islam's emergence.
insights INSIGHT
Monotheism's Impact on Arabia
The rise of monotheism influenced by Jewish and Christian refugees impacted Arabia deeply.
Muhammad's message was central to this monotheistic shift within a predominantly pagan background.
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A History of the Muslim World, From Its Origins to the Dawn of Modernity
A History of the Muslim World, From Its Origins to the Dawn of Modernity
Michael Cook
Muqaddimah
Ibn Khaldūn
The Muqaddimah is a seminal work written by Ibn Khaldūn in 1377. It serves as the introduction to his larger work, 'Kitab al-‘Ibar' (The Book of Lessons), and provides a detailed philosophy of history. The book discusses historical method, the nature of society and social change, and introduces the concept of 'ʿilm al-ʿumrān' (the science of culture). It is divided into six chapters, covering topics such as human civilization, desert and sedentary civilizations, dynasties and royal authority, crafts and ways of making a living, and the sciences. Ibn Khaldūn's central concept of 'ʿaṣabiyyah' (social cohesion) explains the rise and fall of civilizations based on the strength of social bonds within tribes and societies[1][2][5].
Shahnameh
The Persian Book of Kings
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Ferdowsi)
The Shahnameh, composed by Ferdowsi between 980 and 1010 AD, is the world's longest epic poem created by a single poet. It narrates the history of the ancient kings of Iran, divided into three cycles: the mythical past, the time of legendary heroes, and the recorded histories. The poem consists of over 50,000 rhyming couplets and includes stories of heroic kings, legendary heroes, and encounters with various mythical creatures. It is a central work in Persian literature, emphasizing themes such as justice, legitimacy, and divine glory[1][2][5].
This book describes and explains the major events, personalities, conflicts, and convergences that have shaped the history of the Muslim world. The body of the book takes readers from the origins of Islam to the eve of the nineteenth century, and an epilogue continues the story to the present day. Michael Cook thus provides a broad history of a civilization remarkable for both its unity and diversity. After setting the scene in the Middle East of late antiquity, the book depicts the rise of Islam as one of the great black swan events of history. It continues with the spectacular rise of the Caliphate, an empire that by the time it broke up had nurtured the formation of a new civilization. It then goes on to cover the diverse histories of all the major regions of the Muslim world, providing a wide-ranging account of the key military, political, and cultural developments that accompanied the eastward and westward spread of Islam from the Middle East to the shores of the Atlantic and the Pacific. At the same time, A History of the Muslim World contains numerous primary-source quotations that expose the reader to a variety of acutely insightful voices from the Muslim past.
Michael Cook is the Class of 1943 University Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. His books include Ancient Religions, Modern Politics: The Islamic Case in Comparative Perspective (Princeton), A Brief History of the Human Race, and The Koran: A Very Short Introduction.
Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature.
New Books in Islamic Studies 
