This book presents for the first time a clear narrative analysis of the central events of the Islamic domains between the rise of the Abbasids and the Salijuq invasion. It was a period of intense political and economic activity as the Abbasids extended their empire and gradually lost control of it; these years also marked the rise and fall of the Fatimid regime in Egypt and the growth of other regional power groups. The study is based on original sources and Dr Shaban challenges many received opinions.

This book is a sequel to the author's Islamic History A.D. 600-750 (A.H. 132). A New Interpretation. It presents for the first time a clear narrative analysis of the central events in the Islamic domains between the rise of the 'Abbasids and the Saljuq invasion (A.D. 750-1055/ A.H. 132-448). This period witnessed the establishment of a new regime, its failure to live up to its revolutionary ideals and the gradual dissolution of a vast empire into lesser political entitles. The task of creating a political structure supported by viable institutions to rule their territories proved beyond the...

The 'Abb sid Revolution of the eighth century A. D. began in eastern Iran and spread from there to the rest of the Arab Empire. In this 1970 text, Dr Shaban studies the causes of this revolution, which had profound effects on Islamic society and politics, and challenges the view that it was precipitated by the failure of the Arab rulers to treat their Iranian subjects as equals of the Arabs. He maintains that the object of the revolution was the assimilation of all Muslims in the Empire into one community in which Arabs and non-Arabs would have equal rights. The social and political...