Constructing a World History Narrative in the Abbasid Period

Constructing a World History Narrative in the Abbasid Period (Abbasî Dönemi'nde Bir Dünya Tarihi Anlatısı Kurmak), authored by Zeynep Kaya Ünal, is a scholarly work published by Dergâh Publications in March 2024. This work provides an in-depth examination of the evolution of historiography during the Abbasid period, with a particular focus on the methodology of the historian al-Mas'udi. Ünal analyzes al-Mas'udi's works, Muruj al-dhahab and at-Tanbih, to reveal his understanding of history and his place in the narrative of world history.

The book addresses the development of the Iraqi school of history that emerged when the Abbasid caliphate was moved from Damascus to Baghdad. The rise of important historians such as al-Madaini, Ibn Qutaybah, al-Baladhuri, and al-Ya'qubi played a significant role in the evolution of historiography during this period. The period is also characterized by the influence of the Shu'ubiyyah movement, which led to an increased presence of information on non-Arab Muslims (mawali) in historical books, and the beginning of Hellenistic cultural influences entering historical works.

Al-Mas'udi, who was born in Baghdad toward the end of this period, incorporated many fields of knowledge, such as geography, literature, theology, astronomy, and astrology, into the field of history under the umbrella of akhbar (traditions/reports). This approach broadened the scope of historical narrative and put forward a chronological understanding of world history.

• Evolution of Historiography: The book examines how historiography evolved and how new methodologies emerged during the Abbasid period.
• Al-Mas'udi's Methodology: Al-Mas'udi's approach to historiography, the sources he used, and his methodology are analyzed in detail.
• The Akhbar Tradition: The role of the akhbar tradition in historiography and how al-Mas'udi adopted this tradition are discussed.
• World History Narrative: How al-Mas'udi addressed world history in his works and how he combined different geographies to create a narrative are examined.

Zeynep Kaya Ünal adopts an academic language and a methodological approach to provide an in-depth examination of al-Mas'udi's historiography. The work is a significant resource for academics and history enthusiasts who wish to understand the evolution of historiography and al-Mas'udi's contributions.