Witnesses to a world crisis
Subtitle: historians and histories of the Middle East in the seventh century
By: James Howard-Johnston
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Oxford [England]; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 573
ISBN-13: 9780199208593
Subjects: Historiography; Islam; History
Other titles: Historians and histories of the Middle East in the seventh century
Description: James Howard-Johnston provides a sweeping account of probably the most dramatic single episode in world history - the emergence of a new religion (Islam), the destruction of two established great powers (Roman and Iranian) and the creation of a new world empire by the Arabs, all in the space of not much more than a generation.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [531]-549) and index.
Table of contents: title: George of Pisidia: Life and early poems ; War poetry and religious poetry ; Official history of the Persian war and other late works ; Literary achievement ; Relations with the Emperor; title: Two universal chronicles: Chronicon Paschale : general characteristics ; Chronicon Paschale : universal history ; Chronicon Paschale : documentary history of the recent past ; Chronicon Paschale : scope and authorship ; Chronicle of the year 724 : content and sources ; Chronicle of the year 724 : early seventh-century material ; Conclusion; title: Seventh-century Eastern sources I : the History of Khosrov: the History of Khosrov and its authorship ; Scope and character ; Sources ; Editing ; Trustworthiness ; Conclusion; title: Seventh-century Eastern sources II : the History to the year 682 and the Khuzistan Chronicle: History of Atropatene (Azerbaijan) from the beginning of time ; A historical text disinterred : the History to the year 682 ; Information about Turks and Arabs ; Editing ; History to 682 : reliability and historical contribution ; Khuzistan chronicle ; Conclusion; title: Supplementary Roman sources of the seventh century I: Works written in Constantinople ; Evidence from Asia Minor ; Evidence from the Balkans, Italy, and North Africa ; Two show-trials in Constantinople in the 650s; title: Supplementary Roman sources of the seventh century II: Propaganda and lives of saints from Palestine ; Sophronius, poet and patriarch ; The Maronite chronicle ; Evidence about Egypt in the early seventh century ; A detailed narrative of the Arab conquest of Egypt ; Conclusion; title: Later historians : the West Syrian Tradition: The lost History of Theophilus of Edessa and its derivatives ; Theophilus' account of the last Roman-Persian War ; Theophilus' account of the rise of Islam ; Theophilus on international relations and domestic crises (641-661) ; Theophilus evidence on Arab grand strategy before and after the second civil war ; Editorial treatment of Theophilus' work in later histories ; Conclusion; title: Later historians : Nicephorus: Life and historical writing ; Nicephorus' account of the period 603-641 : sources ; Nicephorus' account of the period 603-641 : historical value ; Later seventh- and early eighth-century history : Nicephorus' source ; Nicephorus' account of Roman-Arab relations : historical value ; Conclusion; title: Later historians : Theophanes: Life and work ; Last Roman-Persian war : sources ; Last Roman-Persian war : editorial errors ; A historical text disinterred : the official history of Heraclius' Persian campaigns ; Arab conquests : sources and editing ; Battle for the Mediterranean 669-718 : sources and editing ; A historical text identified : the political memoirs of the Patrician Trajan ; Conclusion; title: Later historians at work in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran:  History of the patriarchs of Alexandria ; Chronicle of Seert ; Annals of Eutychius ; Khwadaynamag ('Book of Lords'); title: Early Islamic historical writing: The Qur'an ; Early Islamic historical traditions ; Al-Tabari's account of the last Roman-Persian war ; Muslim accounts of the conquests (futuh) ; Disruptions in the historical narrative : the capture of Jerusalem and the first civil war (fitna) ; History of events from the end of the first civil war (661) to the siege of Constantinople (717-718) ; Conclusion; title: The life of the prophet: Islamic traditions about sixth-century Arabia ; Rise of Mecca ; Historical value of the biography of the prophet (sira) ; The settlement of Hudaybiya ; Triumph and triumphalism; title: Historians of the Middle East in the seventh century: Modest aims and respect for evidence ; General characteristics of non-Islamic historical writing ; General characteristics of early Islamic historical writing ; Coverage of extant historical sources ; Substantive history; title: The Middle East in the seventh century : the great powers, Arabia, and the Prophet: The last Roman-Persian war, 603-630 ; The Prophet and his followers ; Confrontation and conciliation; title: The Middle East in the seventh century : Arab conquests: Conquest of the Middle East ; Reasons for Muslim success ; Battle for the Mediterrannean : phase I ; The first civil war, 656-661; title: The Middle East in the seventh  century : a new world order: Battle for the Mediterranean : phase II ;  Second civil war, 682-692 ; The early Muslim state ; Siege of Constantinople, 717-718 ; Byzantium and Islam.