Islamic Societies to the Nineteenth Century: A Global History

Ira Lapidus's global history of Islamic societies, first published in 1988, has become a classic in the field. This book, Islamic Societies to the Nineteenth Century, which is based on parts one and two of Lapidus's monumental study, revised and updated, describes the transformations of Islamic societies from their beginning in the seventh century through their diffusion across the world into the nineteenth century. The story focuses on the organization of primary communities, religious groups and states and shows how they were transformed by their interactions with other societies and religions into a varied and interconnected family of societies. The book concludes with the beginning of European commercial and imperial domination that initiated a new set of transformations in the Islamic world and the onset of the modern era. This book is a unique endeavor; its breadth, clarity, style and thoughtful exposition will ensure its place in the classroom and beyond.