Concise History of Humanity (book)
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The Concise History of Humanity or Chronicles (Arabic: 'Tarikhu 'al-Mukhtasar fi Akhbar al-Bashar المختصر في أخبار البشر'), or Tarikh Abi al-Fida تاريخ أبى الفداء (History of Abu al-Fida), is a history book authored by Abu al-Fida Ismail Ibn Hamwi in 1315 and continued by the author to 1329.
[edit] Contents
It extends from the creation of the world and is a universal history dealing with pre-Islamic and Islamic history down to 1329. It was translated into Latin, French and English.
Abu al-Fida relies on his own sources and his own experiences (he was at the front of events as a fighter) but also very much on the great historian of Mosul preceding him, Ibn al-Athir. Such is the importance of this work that it was continued by many after him, including by Ibn al-Wardi who continued it to 1348, and by Ibn al-Shihna al-Halabi who continued it to 1403.
[edit] Stature
Its stature was appreciated by early Western orientalists. Many partial editions of the work were made in the West, the first by John Cagnier (1670-1740). It was published in 1754 by Reiske, and was for a long time the most important Muslim historical work known in the West.
[edit] External links
- Biographical Data, by M. Nauman Khan / Ghulam Mohiuddin, Salaam Knowledge, retrieved April 20, 2006
- Tabari, by Jamil Ahmad, Renaissance Pakistan, retrieved April 21, 2006
- Scholars of Hama, by FTSC Limited, MuslimHeritage.com, April 22, 2005, retrieved April 20, 2006
