The Formation of Islam Religion and Society in the Near East, 600}}}1800 [Hardcover]

This 2005 book surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from 6001800.Jonathan Berkey's book surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from roughly 600 to 1800 CE. The opening chapter examines the religious scene in the Near East in late antiquity. Subsequent chapters investigate Islam's first century, the 'classical' period from the accession of the Abbasids to the rise of the Buyid amirs, and thereafter the emergence of new forms of Islam in the middle period. The book stresses that Islam did not appear all at once, but emerged slowly, as part of a prolonged process.Jonathan Berkey's book surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from roughly 600 to 1800 CE. The opening chapter examines the religious scene in the Near East in late antiquity. Subsequent chapters investigate Islam's first century, the 'classical' period from the accession of the Abbasids to the rise of the Buyid amirs, and thereafter the emergence of new forms of Islam in the middle period. The book stresses that Islam did not appear all at once, but emerged slowly, as part of a prolonged process.Jonathan Berkey surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from approximately 600 to 1800 c.e. After examining the religious scene in the Near East in late antiquity, he investigates Islam's first century, the classical period from the accession of the Abbasids to the rise of the Buyid amirs. He then traces the emergence of new forms of Islam in the middle period, deftly showing how Islam emerged slowly as part of a prolonged process.Part 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, 600750: 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 lsa