The Image and History of the Abbasid State in the Syriac Sources from Its Foundation until the End of the Reign of Caliph Al-Mutasim (132-227 AH / 750-842 AD): A Historiographical Study

Authors

Riad Hamodeh Hasan Haj Yasen, Department of History, Faculty of Arts, Yarmouk University, Jordan.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Despite the importance of non-Arab historical writings in drawing a clear, accurate and possibly different picture of the history of the Abbasid state, these writings have not yet been given due attention. This study aims to create a clear picture of the Abbasid State as it appears in some Syriac sources that reached us translated into Arabic. Compared to other historical sources, these sources seem to pay greater attention to the Sham and the Jazira regions in the Abbasid era. The scope of the research includes examining the main topics of these historical writings, their political, economic and social diversity, and the sources from which they obtained their information. It also highlights the methodology of the authors of these works and the elements common to them, trying to find similarities or differences, if any, between them. The article finally illustrates the importance of the Syriac-historical writings to the history of the Abbasid State, evaluating the accuracy and objectivity of the information given about it in these writings.

Recommended Citation

Hasan Haj Yasen, Riad Hamodeh (2023) "The Image and History of the Abbasid State in the Syriac Sources from Its Foundation until the End of the Reign of Caliph Al-Mutasim (132-227 AH / 750-842 AD): A Historiographical Study," Association of Arab Universities Journal for Arts مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للآداب: Vol. 20: Iss. 2, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/aauja/vol20/iss2/1