Witnesses to a World Crisis : Historians and Histories of the Middle East in the Seventh Century

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. James Howard-Johnston provides a sweeping and highly readable 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 (610-52 AD). Warfare looms large, especially where operations can be followed in some detail, as in Iraq 636-40, in Egypt 641-2 and in the long-drawn out battle for the Mediterranean (649-98). As the first history of the formative phase of Islam to be grounded in the important non-Islamic as well as Islamic sources Witnesses to a World Crisis is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand Islam as a religion and political force, the modern Middle East, and the jihadist impulse, which is as evident today as it was in the seventh century Contents......Page 14 Abbreviations......Page 18 List of Maps......Page 19 Maps......Page 20 Introduction......Page 38 1. George of Pisidia......Page 53 1. Life and early poems......Page 54 2. War poetry and religious poetry......Page 57 3. Official history of the Persian war and other late works......Page 62 4. Literary achievement......Page 64 5. Relations with the emperor......Page 68 2. Two Universal Chronicles......Page 73 1. Chronicon Paschale: general characteristics......Page 74 2. Chronicon Paschale: universal history......Page 78 3. Chronicon Paschale: documentary history of the recent past......Page 81 4. Chronicon Paschale: scope and authorship......Page 91 5. Chronicle to the Year 724: content and sources......Page 96 6. Chronicle to the Year 724: early seventh-century material......Page 100 7. Conclusion......Page 104 3. Seventh-Century Eastern Sources I: The History of Khosrov......Page 107 1. The History of Khosrov and its authorship......Page 108 2. Scope and character......Page 111 3. Sources......Page 117 4. Editing......Page 124 5. Trustworthiness......Page 131 6. Conclusion......Page 136 4. Seventh-Century Eastern Sources II: The History to the Year 682 and the Khuzistan Chronicle......Page 140 1. History of Atropatene (Azerbaijan) from the beginning of time......Page 142 2. A historical text disinterred: the History to the Year 682......Page 145 3. Information about Turks and Arabs......Page 150 4. Editing......Page 157 5. History to 682: reliability and historical contribution......Page 161 6. Khuzistan Chronicle......Page 165 7. Conclusion......Page 172 5. Supplementary Roman Sources of the Seventh Century I......Page 175 1. Works written in Constantinople......Page 177 2. Evidence from Asia Minor......Page 186 3. Evidence from the Balkans, Italy, and north Africa......Page 188 4. Two show-trials in Constantinople in the 650s......Page 194 1. Propaganda and lives of saints from Palestine......Page 200 2. Sophronius, poet and patriarch......Page 208 3. The Maronite Chronicle......Page 212 4. Evidence about Egypt in the early seventh century......Page 216 5. A detailed narrative of the Arab conquest of Egypt......Page 218 6. Conclusion......Page 226 7. Later Historians: The West Syrian Tradition......Page 229 1. The lost History of Theophilus of Edessa and its derivatives......Page 231 2. Theophilus’ account of the last Roman–Persian War......Page 236 3. Theophilus’ account of the rise of Islam......Page 243 4. Theophilus on international relations and domestic crises (641–661)......Page 253 5. Theophilus’ evidence on Arab grand strategy before and after the second civil war......Page 260 6. Editorial treatment of Theophilus’ work in later histories......Page 266 7. Conclusion......Page 270 8. Later Historians: Nicephorus......Page 274 1. Life and historical writing......Page 275 2. Nicephorus’ account of the period 603–641: sources......Page 281 3. Nicephorus’ account of the period 603–641: historical value......Page 287 4. Later seventh- and early eighth-century history: Nicephorus’ source......Page 293 5. Nicephorus’ account of Roman–Arab relations: historical value......Page 297 6. Conclusion......Page 302 9. Later Historians: Theophanes......Page 305 1. Life and work......Page 306 2. Last Roman–Persian war: sources......Page 311 3. Last Roman–Persian war: editorial errors......Page 316 4. A historical text disinterred: the official history of Heraclius’ Persian campaigns......Page 321 5. Arab conquests: sources and editing......Page 332 6. Battle for the Mediterranean 669–718: sources and editing......Page 336 7. A historical text identified: the political memoirs of the Patrician Trajan......Page 343 8. Conclusion......Page 344 10. Later Historians at Work in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran......Page 350 1. History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria......Page 352 2. Chronicle of Seert......Page 361 3. Annals of Eutychius......Page 368 4. Khwadaynamag (‘Book of Lords’)......Page 378 11. Early Islamic Historical Writing......Page 391 1. The Qur’an......Page 392 2. Early Islamic historical traditions......Page 395 3. Al-Tabari’s account of the last Roman–Persian war......Page 403 4. Muslim accounts of the conquests (futuh)......Page 407 5. Disruptions in the historical narrative: the capture of Jerusalem and the first civil war (fitna)......Page 416 6. History of events from the end of the first civil war (661) to the siege of Constantinople (717–718)......Page 424 7. Conclusion......Page 429 12. The Life of the Prophet......Page 432 1. Islamic traditions about sixth-century Arabia......Page 433 2. Rise of Mecca......Page 435 3. Historical value of the biography of the Prophet (sira)......Page 439 4. The settlement of Hudaybiya......Page 445 5. Triumph and triumphalism......Page 451 13. Historians of the Middle East in the Seventh Century......Page 456 1. Modest aims and respect for evidence......Page 457 2. General characteristics of non-Islamic historical writing......Page 460 3. General characteristics of early Islamic historical writing......Page 462 4. Coverage of extant historical sources......Page 465 5. Substantive history......Page 472 1. The last Roman-Persian war, 603–630......Page 473 2. The Prophet and his followers......Page 482 3. Confrontation and conciliation......Page 492 15. The Middle East in the Seventh Century: Arab Conquests......Page 498 1. Conquest of the Middle East......Page 501 2. Reasons for Muslim success......Page 507 3. Battle for the Mediterranean: phase I......Page 511 4. First civil war, 656–661......Page 518 16. The Middle East in the Seventh Century: A New World Order......Page 525 1. Battle for the Mediterranean: phase II......Page 526 2. Second civil war, 682–692......Page 532 3. The early Muslim state......Page 538 4. Siege of Constantinople, 717–718......Page 544 5. Byzantium and Islam......Page 547 Conclusion......Page 554 Bibliography......Page 568 A......Page 588 B......Page 590 C......Page 591 D......Page 593 E......Page 594 G......Page 595 H......Page 596 I......Page 598 J......Page 599 K......Page 600 M......Page 601 O......Page 603 Q......Page 604 S......Page 605 T......Page 607 W......Page 609 Z......Page 610 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. 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 -- 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 -- Seventh-century Eastern Sources I : The History Of Khosrov: The History Of Khosrov And Its Authorship ; Scope And Character ; Sources ; Editing ; Trustworthiness ; Conclusion -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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') -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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. James Howard-johnston. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [531]-549) And Index.