Islam in World History examines the emergence and development of Islam as a world religion in the Abrahamic tradition and the unfolding of Muslim society and civilization over fourteen centuries.
In contrast to the usual recital of the rise of Islam as a “new” religion, this book looks at the religious, geographic, and civilizational context in which Islam emerged and became a religiously, ethnically, and culturally diverse society deeply connected with hemispheric networks and exchanges in Afro Eurasia and ultimately a global religious community. The book addresses the development of institutions and social structures that came to characterize Muslim societies over the long term, with emphasis on their diverse expressions in various regions. The chronological approach, which analyzes the political history of Muslim society, allows for deeper understanding of how Islamicate civilization continued to develop and spread despite the fragmentation of the unitary state and its mixed record of adherence to Islamic ideals.
By addressing common questions and misperceptions over the long run of Islamic history to the present day, this book is the perfect resource for all students who study religion and the history of Islam across the world.
1. Introduction to Islam in World History
2. Beginnings
3. The Succession
4. Growth and Division
5. Islam in Afroeurasian Networks of Exchange
6. External and Internal Developments and Responses
7. Coalescing and Consolidation in the First Global Era, 1500–1800 CE
8. Modernization, Imperialism, and Nationalism, 1798–1945 CE
9. Muslim States and Communities, 1948–Present
Biography
Susan L. Douglass teaches world history and conducts education outreach, with degrees from George Mason University (Ph.D., 2016) and Georgetown University (M.A.,1993). She writes on curriculum and education policy and is the author of World Eras: Rise and Spread of Islam (2002) and Teaching About Religion in National and State Social Studies Standards (2000).
Tom Facchine writes and speaks on Islam, intellectual history, and political thought. He has degrees from Vassar College (2011) and the Islamic University of Madina (2020).
“Susan Douglass and Tom Facchine have explored the history of Islam and Muslim societies in a relatively short work of nonetheless remarkable scholarly depth and range. As the title promises, the book situates this history in hemispheric and global contexts but at the same time pays serious attention – more than most surveys do – to Muslim civilization’s intellectual, theological, and aesthetic development. The book’s later chapters offer an empathetic but clear-eyed analysis of the challenges Islamic societies have faced in the modern centuries.”
Ross E. Dunn, Professor Emeritus, San Diego State University, USA, and Project Director, World History for Us All
“Susan L. Douglass has long been an important voice in Islamic History and world history in the U.S. Her Islam in World History (with Tom Facchine) provides a sure guide to students and is an important addition to the literature. I recommend it highly.”
Edmund Burke, III, Research Professor of History, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
