|
|
Sunday 21 March 2010
| |
|
Sale Bargains &
Current Catalogs and Leaflets
Information on Shipping Charges |
Medieval Islamic Swords and Swordmakingby Robert Hoyland, Brian GilmourThe treatise On swords and their kinds was written by the 9th-century Muslim philosopher Ya'qkub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi. This work was commissioned by a powerful patron of scholarship, the Abbasid caliph Mu'tasim, and the content of the treatise presumably reflects the ruler's general interest in his army and its equipment, and his specific interest in the technical aspects of sword production. In this work, Kindi discusses the difference between iron and steel, distinguishes different qualities of sword blade, and different centers of swordsmithing. He refers to the Indian Ocean trade in steel ingots and to the distinctive character of European swords of the period. He includes technical terms used by the makers, and distinguishes swords by their physical features - form, measurements, weight, watered pattern, sculptured details, or inlaid ornaments. This publication includes the text and a translation of Kindi's treatise, and a detailed commentary on the work. The volume also includes translation of Friedrich Schwarzlose's work on swords, which is based on the hundreds of references to swords in early Arabic poetry. Written in German, this extraordinary compendium of information was first published some 120 years ago; this volume makes it available again, and for the first time in English. 223p, 12 b/w figures (Gibb 2006) 
Review Quotes"This book is a "must-have" for anyone interested in the swords of the medieval Near East, and in metals culture in early Islamic civilization." Philip Tom "It is, perhaps the best source available, not only on swords, but on the production of iron and steel during the time. The authors are not only translators, but experts on the subject. Their commentary goes a long way to describing the meaning behind the actual translations. This book is a welcome addition to the library of the history of metalworking." John Matlock "...an invaluable reference for scholars interested in Islamic iron and steel working in general, and swordmaking in particular." Muhammed Hassanali ""Medieval Islamic Swords and Swordmaking" contains fresh data and observations on Islamic arms and metalworking technology. As such, it is an indispensable addition to every reference library on the subject." Oliver Pinchot "Altogether, this is a well-researched and scholarly work on the subject which will be of enormous value to the scholars and the general readers alike." Ayyub Malik
Browse other Islamic Manuscripts books Browse other Metallurgy books |
|
We respect our customers' privacy and security. The credit-card details form in our order process is secure-server protected. This means that your credit card details are scrambled in transit, and then stored securely so that we are the only people who can access your information. We will not give or sell your personal information to any other company; nor will we send you any unsolicited e-mail. Users who sign up to our e-mailing list may unsubscribe at any time. © Most of the descriptions on the website have been published in Oxbow Book News and other Oxbow catalogues, and are protected by copyright. If you wish to use any of the content on this website, please contact the web administrator for advice. |
