The ‘Abbasid and Carolingian Empires: Comparative Studies in Civilizational Formation . Edited by D.G.Tor. Islamic History and Civilization 150. Leiden: Brill. 2017. x + 231 pp. €119. ISBN 978 90 04 35304 6.
Sam Ottewill‐Soulsby
The mid-eighth century was a turbulent time for the empires of western Eurasia, witnessing overthrowing both Umayyads in Caliphate (750) and Merovingians Francia (751). dynasties that supplanted them, ‘Abbasids Carolingians respectively, were united by more than mere chronology. Both legitimized their rule over expansionist, multi-ethnic through faithful adherence to an Abrahamic religion. patronized boom culture drew upon resources classical past. engaged contact with wide range distant powers, exemplified diplomacy took place between them. This volume seeks explore these parallels. Arising from conference held at University Notre Dame 2013, ‘Abbasid Carolingian Empires has laudably ambitious objectives, as laid out D.G. Tor’s introduction. book aims ‘deepen scholars’ understanding own subject study’ familiarizing them ‘parallel civilization’ encouraging consider similarities differences two (p. 6). meat consists seven chapters, arranged three sections. first is concerned ‘Political Power’, containing essays Jennifer Davis on ‘Inventing Missi: Delegating Power Late Eighth Early Ninth Centuries’ Jürgen Paul ‘Ḥasanwayh b. al-Ḥusayn al-Kurdī (r. ca. 350–369/ca. 961–979): From Freehold Castles Vassality?’. followed section ‘Culture, Ethnicity, Geography’, discussed Eric Goldberg ‘The Emperor’s Ass: Hunting Asiatic Onager (Equus hemionus) Abbasid, Byzantine, Worlds’, Walter Pohl ‘Ethnicity Empire’, Minoru Inaba ‘Across Hindūkush Period’. ‘Religion’ then addressed Ian Wood ‘Columbanus, Columbanian Tradition Caesarius’, Robert Gleave Rebel Imam: Uprising Zayd al-Nār Shi‘i Leadership Claims’. completed conclusion provided Michael Cook entitled ‘Comparing ‘Abbasids’. Each fine piece scholarship which will be great interest others already working same area. Difficulties arise when considering whole light its stated objectives. Contributors encouraged remain within areas expertise 6), allowing comparisons juxtaposition. A number problems result this entirely reasonable decision. staying home territory there little sense contributors are being stretched. It telling most interesting those break editorial guidelines use opportunity go beyond normal limits. Goldberg’s essay tour de force precisely because he uses Arabic sources persuasively argue not just acquired wild asses game parks, but also ideas about hunting influenced Middle Eastern concepts. Similarly, Pohl’s contribution comes alive his ethnicity early medieval West ask questions very different landscape identity Caliphate. bigger problem have say each other. While pairing eastern paper third sections might seem suggest parallel approaches, practice chapters kinds issues. artificiality book’s structure revealed Geography’. papers contained it all one subjects, none three. places deal strain Cook’s concluding essay, left task creating structural integrity after fact. find meaningful chapter while suggesting further avenues study. result, frequently stimulating, considerably rushed superficial been without pressures. Part issue almost complete absence volume. majority acquire shared coherence concentrating core world during late eighth- ninth-century heyday. By contrast, counterparts edge tenth century, point had long since lost political relevance. Even Gleave’s chapter, intersection religious legitimacy reign al-Ma’mūn (813–33), fascinating discussion debates Shi‘ism based material assembled century. feels unbalanced only protagonists makes appearance. Davis’s development missi Charlemagne’s masterclass how introduce complicated unfamiliar audience saying something old hands. Others give less quarter novice. Pity scholar who approaches Paul’s careers generations Ḥasanwayhid dynasty knowledge Būyid politics or geography Zagros Mountains Inaba’s shifting around Hindu Kush does least maps, frequent rendering names script transliteration unhelpful many Carolingianists. All undermines volume’s value entry historians seeking expand horizons. relevant fields but, despite praiseworthy aspirations motivating it, sum parts.
Early Medieval Europe