Review The Revolt Of African Slaves In Iraq in the 3rd/9th Century

Popovic, Alexandre, The Revolt Of African Slaves In Iraq in the 3^rd/9^th Century, Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers, 1999

 

Africans are a largely forgotten community within Iraq. Alexandre Popovic’s The Revolt Of African Slaves In Iraq In The 3^rd/9^th Century is one of the only books on the subject and it’s about ancient history. It covers a rebellion by black slaves known as the Zanj in southern Iraq and Persian that lasted for over a decade in the 800s A.D. The book has some interesting moments but becomes repetitive detailing battle after battle.

Review Baghdad, City of Peace, City of Blood, A History In Thirteen Centuries

Marozzi, Justin, Baghdad, City of Peace, City of Blood, A History In Thirteen Centuries, Boston: da Capo Press, 2014

 

Justin Marozzi’s Baghdad, City of Peace, City of Blood, A History In Thirteen Centuries as the title suggests is a tale about Baghdad from ancient times to the present. Half of the book is on the Abbasid Dynasty which made Baghdad its capitol and is considered the golden age of the city. It is not a scholarly book and Marozzi has a real flair for writing which makes it an easy read. His thesis is in the title as well as he discusses the highs and lows of Baghdad.

Review when baghdad ruled the muslin world, the rise and fall of islam’s greatest dynasty

 Kennedy, Hugh, when baghdad ruled the muslin world, the rise and fall of islam’s greatest dynasty, Cambridge: Da Capo Press, 2004

 

Hugh Kennedy takes an unconventional approach to telling the history of the Abbasid caliphate in when baghdad ruled the muslim world, the rise and fall of islam’s greatest dynasty. He was inspired by the poems and stories that are the source material for historians to study this time period. He therefore wrote a narrative about the empire rather than a straight history. It proved to be a very approachable book on the Abbasids.