This volume addresses the topical interest in Islam; studying the process of its spread throughout the medieval world and the process of conversion to this religion and adoption of this cultural complex. The evidence is presented in a series of essay reports on archaeological approaches in current Islamic Archaeology. These papers are the result of a seminar that attempted a comparative analysis of widely different regions and periods; based on archaeological monuments or artifacts; exploring processes of adaptation or adjustment to local cultural complexes. Islam may be seen as a religion; political system; and cultural complex; a trinity of inseparable aspects. The introduction of these variable characteristics of islam; during initial contact and afterwards resulted in changes in indentity approached as a sort of 'cognitive' archaeology. In each specific case; the author assesses the nature of the pre-Islamic regional tradition; the resulting plurality of cultures as a 'multi-cultural' society; and finally a resultant normative condition as a regional or cosmopolitan culture. This exposure to unfamiliar subjects and archaeological perspectives offers a potential for more abstract; comparative modeling in future historical research. This volume contains essay reports by Jodi Magness on two villages near Jerusalem; Tracy Hoffam on the city of Ascalon; Yury Karev on Samarqand; Mark Horton on Shanga in East Africa; and Timothy Insoll on Gao in West Africa; as well as an introductory essay by the editor."
#1207351 in Books Osprey Publishing 1993-05-27 1993-05-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.73 x .24 x 7.26l; .76 #File Name: 185532301X96 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. General Charles (Chinese) Gordon's last standBy E. OxnerDonald Featherstone's historical review of Great Britain's war in the Sudan (1881-1898); with the support of David Chandler; head of the Department of War Studies of Britain's Royal Military Academy; was spectacular. I have studied the rise and fall of Mohammed Ibn Ahmed (the false Mahdi)relying on authors who experienced his despotic rule; but none have matched Featherstone's succinct history--and excellent maps--which in this volume is replete with many outstanding illustrations--sketches done by the few survivors of this unfortunate war.My only small criticism is that his "Guide to Further Reading" did not include the authors; Colonel Slaton; Charles Neufeld; MD; Rev. Father Ohrwalder--three unfortunate (but thankfully; survivors) of the Mahdi. He did include Lt. Col. Wingate's epic story "Mahdism and the Egyptian Sudan"(1891) which alone is most valuable reading.For the history buff this 96-page treatise is truly a marvellous work of the turbulent story of the Sudan during the heydays of the Anglo-Egyptian period.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Louis A. DiazFascinating subject and the person of Gordon of Khartoum.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy William L Hickmangreat read
