The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in the Early Islamic State (Warfare and History)

The Armies of the Caliphs is the first major study of the relationship between army and society in the early Islamic period, and reveals the pivotal role of the military in politics. Through a thorough examination of recruitment, payment, weaponry and fortifications in the armies, The Armies of the Caliphs offers the most comprehensive view to date of how the early Muslim Empire grew to control so many people. Using Arabic chronicles, surviving documents, and archaeological evidence, this book analyzes the military and the face of battle, and offers a timely reassessment of the early Islamic State.

During the Medieval period, the Middle East was a battleground in which the Umayyad and the Abbasids Caliphs fought for dominance of an empire that stretched from Spain to the borders of India. The Armies of the Caliphs is the first major study of the relationship between army and society in the early Islamic period, and reveals the pivotal role of the military in politics.

Over the key period of 600-945, the Muslims developed a salaried, semi-professional army, dependent on the state for its livelihood. In this extraordinary survey, Kennedy shows how the army began to influence and eventually dominate the political system, and reflects on how the involvement of the military in Middle Eastern politics today has its origins in this period.

Through an examination of recruitment, payment, weaponry and fortifications in the armies, The Armies of the Caliphs offers the most comprehensive view to date of how the early Muslim Empire grew to control so many people. Using Arabicchronicles, surviving documents, and archaeological evidence, this book analyzes the military and the face of battle, and offers a timely reassesment of the early Islamic State.

Carole Hillenbrand

This is an extremely rich and original book. It forces a reassessment of the early Islamic conquests from standpoints that have hitherto been totally ignored or undervalued.

"During the Medieval period, the Middle East was a battleground in which the Umayyad and the Abbasids Caliphs fought for dominance of an empire that stretched from Spain to the borders of India. The Armies of the Caliphs is the first major study of the relationship between army and society in the early Islamic period, and reveals the pivotal role of the military in politics. -- Over the key period of 600-945, the Muslims developed a salaried, semi-professional army, dependent on the state for its livelihood. In this extraordinary survey, Kennedy shows how the army began to influence and eventually dominate the political system, and reflects on how the involvement of the military in Middle Eastern politics today has its origins in this period. Through an examination of recruitment, payment, weaponry and fortifications in the armies, The Armies of the Caliphs offers the most comprehensive view to date of how the early Muslim Empire grew to control so many people. Using Arabic chronicles, surviving documents, and archaeological evidence, this book analyzes the military and the face of battle, and offers a timely reassesment of the early Islamic State." "During the Medieval period, the Middle East was a battleground in which the Umayyad and the Abbasids Caliphs fought for dominance of an empire that stretched from Spain to the borders of India. The Armies of the Caliphs is a study of the relationship between army and society in the early Islamic period, and reveals the pivotal role of the military in politics." "Over the key period of 600-945, the Muslims developed a salaried, semi-professional army, dependent on the state for its livelihood. In this survey, Kennedy shows how the army began to influence and eventually dominate the political system, and reflects on how the involvement of the military in Middle Eastern politics today has its origins in this period." "Through an examination of recruitment, payment, weaponry and fortifications in the armies, The Armies of the Caliphs describes how the early Muslim Empire grew to control so many people. Using Arabic chronicles, surviving documents, and archaeological evidence, this book analyzes the military and the face of battle, and offers a reassesment of the early Islamic State."--Résumé de l'éditeur Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 ISBN......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of maps......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 List of abbreviations......Page 11 A note on the use of Arabic sources......Page 12 CHAPTER ONE......Page 22 CHAPTER TWO......Page 39 CHAPTER THREE......Page 80 CHAPTER FOUR......Page 117 CHAPTER FIVE......Page 139 CHAPTER SIX......Page 169 CHAPTER SEVEN......Page 189 CHAPTER EIGHT......Page 204 CHAPTER NINE......Page 216 APPENDIX 1......Page 220 APPENDIX 2......Page 226 Primary Sources......Page 232 Secondary sources......Page 234 Index......Page 242 The armies of the first Caliphs were formed in the Prophet's lifetime and during the spectacular conquests which followed his death in 11/632.