{"product_id":"the-history-of-al-abar-vol-30-the-abbsid-caliphate-in-equilibrium-the-caliphates-of-ms-al-hd-and-h-9780887065668","title":"The History of al-Ṭabarī Vol. 30: The ʿAbbāsid Caliphate in Equilibrium: The Caliphates of Mūsā al-Hādī and H (Suny Near Eastern Studies)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis volume of al-Ṭabarī's \u003ci\u003eHistory\u003c\/i\u003e covers nearly a quarter of a century, and after covering the very brief caliphate of al-Hādī, concentrates on that of Hārūn al-Rashīd. During these years, the caliphate was in a state of balance with its external foes; the great enemy, Christian Byzantium, was regarded with respect by the Muslims, and the two great powers of the Near East treated each other essentially as equals, while the Caucasian and Central Asian frontiers were held against pressure from the Turkish peoples of Inner Eurasia. The main stresses were internal, including Shī'ite risings on behalf of the excluded house of 'Alī, and revolts by the radical equalitarian Khārijites; but none of these was serious enough to affect the basic stability of the caliphate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHārūn ar-Rashīd's caliphate has acquired in the West, under the influence of a misleading picture from the \u003ci\u003eArabian Nights\u003c\/i\u003e, a glowing image as a golden age of Islamic culture and letters stemming from the Caliph's patronage of the exponents of these arts and sciences. In light of the picture of the Caliph which emerges from al-Ṭabarī's pages, however, this image seems to be distinctly exaggerated. Al-Rashīd himself does not exhibit any notable signs of administrative competence, military leadership or intellectual interests beyond those which convention demanded of a ruler. For much of his reign, he left the business of government to the capable viziers of the Barmakīd family-the account of whose spectacular fall from power forms one of the most dramatic features of al-Ṭabarī's narratives here-and his decision to divide the Islamic empire after his death between his sons was to lead subsequently to a disastrous civil war. Nevertheless, al-Ṭabarī's story is full of interesting sidelights on the lives of those involved in the court circle of the time and on the motivations which impelled medieval Muslims to seek precarious careers there.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA discounted price is available when purchasing the entire 39-volume History of al-Ṭabarī set. Contact SUNY Press for more information.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e C. E. Bosworth\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e State University of New York Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/13\/1989\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 394\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.17lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.06h x 5.94w x 0.86d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780887065668\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis title is not returnable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"State University of New York Press","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43792747790451,"sku":"9.78089E+12","price":66.23,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/files\/img_4abab4d2-5dc9-4f54-800a-eddd4c88278a.jpg?v=1758105201","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/the-history-of-al-abar-vol-30-the-abbsid-caliphate-in-equilibrium-the-caliphates-of-ms-al-hd-and-h-9780887065668","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}