The Breaking of a Thousand Swords: A History of the Turkish Military of Samarra (A.H. 200-275/815-889 C.E.) (SUNY series in Medieval Middle East History)

the Breaking Of A Thousand Swords Provides A Portrait Of The Samarran Turks As Members Of A Community With A Specific And Complex History In The Early Medieval Islamic World. It Considers: The Encounter Of The Turks As Rough, Non-muslim Outsiders, With The Sedentary, Urbane World Of Baghdad: The Closely Related Encounter Of The Turks With The Islamic Tradition In Its Urban, Scholarly Guise; The Settlement Of The Turks, In Baghdad Then In Samarra, Through The Use Of Land Grants And Appointments Of Office; The Impact Upon The Affairs Of The Turkish Community Of Not Only A Military Ranking But Of A Socio-political Hierarchy As Well; The Construction By The Turkish Elite Of An Elaborate Network Of Patronage And Support, Both Within Urban Iraq And Throughtout The Provinces (egypt In Particular): And The Emergence, And Impact, Of Factionalism Within The Community.--book Jacket. booknews gordon (history, Miami U., Ohio) Considers The Encounter Of The Samarran Turks As Rough, Non-muslim Outsiders, With The Sedentary, Urbane World Of Baghdad; Their Closely Related Encounter With The Islamic Tradition In Its Urban, Scholarly Guise; Their Settlement First In Baghdad And Then In Samarra Through The Use Of Land Grants And Appointments To Office; The Impact On The Affairs Of The Turkish Community Of A Military Ranking And Socio-political Hierarchy; The Construction By Their Elite Of An Elaborate Network Of Patronage And Support Both Within Urban Iraq And Through Egypt And Other Provinces, And The Emergence And Impact Of Factionalism Within The Community. He Includes Maps Ranging From Cities To The Whole Region, And A Family Tree. Annotation C. Book News, Inc., Portland, Or (booknews.com)