أبو الفضل، محمد أحمد. تاريخ مدينة المرية الأندلسية في العصر الإسلامي: دراسة في التاريخ السياسي و الحضاري. الإسكندرية: دار المعرفة الجامعية، ۱٩٩٦، ٢٤٤ص
Abu al-Fadl, Muhammad Ahmad. Tarikh Madinat al-Mariyyah al-Andalusiyyah fi al-ʻAsr al-Islami: Dirasah fi al-Tarikh al-Siyasi wa-al-Hadari. Alexandria: Dar al-Maʻrifah al-Jamiʻiyyah, 1996, 244pp.
ABSTRACT
The History of the Andalusian City of Almeira in the Islamic Era, a Study of the Political and Cultural History
تاريخ مدينة المرية الأندلسية في العصر الإسلامي: دراسة في التاريخ السياسي و الحضاري
This book represents a compact in-depth study of the history of the Andalusian city of Almeria. The author addresses the salient periods of its political history, civil and urban development during the Umayyad Caliphate, and Muluk al-Tawa’if period, when many little kingdoms appeared. It ends the historical journey by discussing the direct causes and signs of the emergence of the Almoravid state in Andalusia.
The book consists of two parts; the political history, and the most important cultural aspects of Almeria. The chapters within cover the economic, military, political, scientific and social aspects of Almeria, highlighting the most important industrial and scientific developments linked to artistic productions, commercial techniques, urbanism and warfare.
For the methodology, the author relied on a significant number of pioneering scholars and primary historical documents, including maps and photographs of Almeria. The sources are illustrated in the footnotes and alphabetically organised in an extensive reference list in addition to an appendix. In this study, Abu al-Fadl was inspired by an earlier work of Al-Sayyid ʻAbd al-ʻAziz Salim. Therefore, it is considered to be a completion of Salim’s book.
The overlapping nature of information however, requires an intermediate–advanced level of the Arabic language as well as a general understanding of Muslim history. Finally, the work focuses on the ethnic segregation between Berbers, Arabs, Jews, Saqaliba and Andalusians showing their vital role in changing the political landscape of Almeria. Still, due to the notable lack of resources on Almeria, this book is considered as a serious attempt to preserve the Muslim cultures worldwide.
Hamza al-Tabai
