The Islamic World: A History In Objects

This illustrated introduction to the history of the Islamic world takes its cue from the British Museum's outstanding collection of art and artifacts from Islamic lands, offering a penetrating insight into the history and culture of this region through everyday objects and treasures from the ancient world and recent works of contemporary art.

Arranged broadly chronologically into a series of thematic narratives, this book details the history of the Middle East and the greater Islamic world's cultures through six chapters: the earliest history of the Islamic world, faith, interconnected worlds (trade and cultural exchange c. 600-1500), the age of empires (c. 1500-1900), literature and music and the modern world. In each case, the objects themselves serve as the gateway into the history of Islamic culture: familiar masterpieces, together with lesser-known treasures, provide new ways to learn about the Islamic world.

Written by a team of acknowledged experts at the British Museum, this book will shed new light on a fascinating and highly sophisticated culture, providing fresh insights for the scholar and the general reader alike.