The formation of the Islamic world, AD 550-950

This course traces, through the material evidence, the emergence and development of the Islamic world, from the Near East in late antiquity to the vast Abbasid empire in its heyday. The origins and early development of Islam are a controversial subject, and scholars, unable to agree upon the value of the historical tradition, are increasingly turning to material evidence. Islamic archaeology, until recently in its infancy, has now grown to maturity, and represents one of the most exciting new developments in Old World archaeology. Islamic art history has largely freed itself from the constraints of the connoisseur tradition, and historians of Islamic art and architecture now study objects and buildings in context. Those taking this subject will become familiar with the material evidence, and the rich collections of the Ashmolean Museum – ceramics, metalwork, and coins – will be used for practical classes. The most important sites and monuments will be studied in detail, including the holy places of Islam (Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem), the great imperial capitals of the early Islamic empire (Damascus, Baghdad, and Samarra), the so-called 'desert castles' of Greater Syria, and many less well known sites. The approach is largely thematic, and the thrust of the course historical, but each of the three principal lecturers contributes a different range of expertise and interests, so that the whole is both balanced and varied. No knowledge of Arabic is required. This course is usually taught in Michaelmas Term (Convenor: J. Johns, Oriental Institute).