The Formation of Islam

The Formation of Islam

How did Islam emerge and take shape as a distinct religious tradition within the religious landscape of the late antique Near East, and what processes led to its classical form?

About the Book

The Formation of Islam, authored by Jonathan P. Berkey and published in 2003 by Cambridge University Press, surveys the religious history of the peoples of the Near East from approximately 600 to 1800 CE. The book begins with the religious scene in late antiquity, then investigates Islam’s first century and the “classical” period from the accession of the Abbasids to the rise of the Buyid amirs. Berkey traces the emergence of new forms of Islam in the middle period, showing how Islam gradually took shape as part of a prolonged historical process involving interaction with existing religious, cultural, and political realities.

What You Will Discover

• The religious and cultural context of the Near East in late antiquity
• The emergence and early development of Islam in its first century
• The classical period under the Abbasids and subsequent political changes
• The gradual formation of Islamic beliefs, practices, and institutions
• The interaction between Islam and other religious traditions in the region
• The emergence of new forms and expressions of Islam in the medieval period
• A broad historical perspective on how Islam became a major world civilization

About the Author

Jonathan P. Berkey is a historian specializing in medieval Islamic history and the formation of Islamic tradition.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is excellent for university students, researchers, and general readers seeking a comprehensive yet accessible survey of the historical formation of Islam from its origins through the medieval period.