An Index of Nayrūz Occurrences in Abbasid Literary Sources.

This volume is the result of a two-years research project, focusing on an exhaustive indexing of all edited Arabic sources mentioning the Iranian festival of Nayrūz (Nawrūz) in the Abbasid age (750-1258 CE). The Index is meant as a first step towards filling a void in the study of the Abbasid age, providing a ground-breaking instrument for scholars interested in the study of chronology and socio-economical history of the classical Islamicate world. Further studies on this subjects are sorely needed, in light of the literary presence of this festival and its connection to fiscal matters, as a quick look to the present volume will make clear to the reader. Moreover, this is in agreement with all contemporary studies on the history of Iranian strands in Islamic pre-modern societies, which seldom fails to mention the need for a systematic study of literary evidence

Scribes et enquêteurs. Note sur le personnel judiciaire en Égypte aux quatre premiers siècles de l'hégire

Cet article a été rédigé dans le cadre d'un projet Marie Curie financé par la Commission Européenne.International audienceThis article undertakes first a reconstruction of lists of legal scribes (kātibs) and investigators (sāḥibs al-masāʾil) active in Fustāt ̣between the 1st/early 8th and the 4th/10th century. Identification of these people allows a better understanding of the recruitment of Egyptian judiciary staff. Their reputations as scholars, as well as their ethnical, geographical and tribal origins, show that legal careers were limited by social barriers for a long time. Up until the 3rd/9th century, the office of scribe was mostly held by mawālī--high-ranking clients could possibly aspire to the office of investigator--, whereas qāḍīs were recruited among Arabs. The partitioning of the judiciary reveals a complex social hierarchy beyond the mere distinction between Arabs and non-Arabs. The results of this study also allow a re-evaluation of the Abbasid revolution's impact on Egyptian society.Cet article entreprend dans un premier temps de reconstituer des listes de scribes (kātib-s) et d'enquêteurs judiciaires (ṣāḥib-s al-masā'il-s) actifs à Fusṭāṭ entre le Ier/début VIIIe et le IVe/Xe siècle. L'identification de ces personnages permet, dans un second temps, de mieux comprendre le recrutement du personnel judiciaire égyptien. Leur réputation en tant que savants, ainsi que leur origine ethnique, géographique et tribale, montrent que la carrière judiciaire fut longtemps limitée par des barrières sociales. Jusqu'au IIIe/IXe siècle, les fonctions de scribe revinrent le plus souvent à des mawālī, les plus élevés d'entre eux pouvant éventuellement briguer le poste d'enquêteur, tandis que les cadis étaient arabes. Le cloisonnement de la judicature révèle ainsi une hiérarchie sociale complexe, allant au-delà de la distinction entre Arabes et non-Arabes. Les résultats de cette étude permettent accessoirement de réévaluer l'impact de la révolution abbasside sur la société égyptienne

The Formation of the Civilian Elite in the Syrian Province: The Case of Ayyubid and Early Mamluk Hamah

The urban renaissance in northern Syria from the sixth/twelfth century onwards increased significantly the demand for scholars in order to staff newly arising civilian posts. This demand was in Hama initially satisfied with outside scholars, particularly those coming from the eastern lands. The decisive reason for the appointment of these scholars was their cosmopolitan background, i.e. a trans-regional reputation of scholarship and/or close links with the respective ruling dynasty. It took several decades until the grand Shafi'i families developed from the late sixth/twelfth century onwards that centred their activities on Hama. This local elite was increasingly able to monopolise the town’s important posts during considerable parts of the seventh/thirteenth and eighth/fourteenth centuries. Descent from the Banu al-Mughayzil, al-Bahrani, Wasil, and al-Barizi remained throughout this period a crucial asset in order to secure one’s career. It was only in the middle of the eigth/fourteenth century that the civilian elite of Hama became less localised: more outside scholars took positions in the town and the local families either lost in influence or adopted an increasingly cosmopolitan profile (Banu al-Barizi). Some families, such as the Banu Qarnas and Banu Rawaha, on the contrary, chose already during the period of a localised elite a cosmopolitan outlook. Although originiating from Hama they were active in many urban centres of the Syrian lands

Was hat Max Weber mit Kātib Čelebi zu tun? Ein Annäherungsversuch an Gottfried Hagen

This article responds to Gottfried Hagen's extensive review (see Der Islam 2/2013) of my book Islamische Verantwortungsethik im 17. Jahrhundert. Ein weberianisches Verständnis der Handlungsvorstellungen Kātib Čelebis (1609-1657). Whilst I benefitted greatly from some of Hagen's critical remarks and historical elucidations, his review not only misstates crucial passages of my book but also largely disregards its main objective, which is to develop a systematic model for understanding Kātib Čelebi's ethical stance. Besides reiterating crucial arguments ignored and rectifying central aspects misrepresented in Hagen's review, I here ask how the more fundamental misunderstandings - exceeding differences in theoretical positions or empirical observations - between the au-thor's intentions and the reviewer's reception may be explained. Gottfried Hagen's historiographical perspective on Kātib Čelebi diverges from my sociological take on the same subject matter to the extent that both perspectives are struggling to enter into dialogue. Such dialogue, however, remains highly desirable so as to complement a historical reconstruction of Kātib Čelebi's life and times with a systematic, theoretically grounded understanding of his view

Le sentiment d'appartenance collective chez les élites bagdadiennes des Ve-VIe/XIe-XIIe siècles

International audienceThis study focuses on the feeling of collective belonging expressed by diverse actors of Baghdad history, in the context of social change brought by the Saldjūq domination (mid. 5th/11th-mid. 6th-12th c.). Different aspects of this feeling are studied: the control of social relations and the distinction practices of the Baghdadian elites; the strong collective identity of the Hanbali of the eastern bank of the city, whose sociability was mainly maḏhab-orientated. I also consider the last homage of the group to a dead notable at his funeral as an expression of the strength of collective affiliations in the Baghdadian society of this period. Death itself was not always putting an end to such affiliations: in some cases, the role of the main social figures among the living could be continued after their decease.Cet article s'intéresse au sentiment d'appartenance collective manifesté par certains acteurs de l'histoire de Bagdad dans une période de bouleversements sociaux, sous la domination des Turcs seldjoukides (milieu du Ve/XIe-milieu du VIe/XIIe siècles). Il examine plusieurs des manifestations d'un tel sentiment : contrôle des fréquentations et pratiques de distinction des notables bagdadiens ; identité collective particulièrement forte des hanbalites de la rive orientale de la ville, dont la sociabilité était presque entièrement réduite à leurs compagnons de maḏhab. Le dernier hommage rendu à un notable à l'occasion de ses funérailles est envisagé comme un témoignage de la force du sentiment d'appartenance collective dans la société bagdadienne de l'époque. L'appartenance des personnalités les plus marquantes du groupe était par ailleurs susceptible de trouver une continuité après leur décès, et leur rôle social se voyait ainsi perpétué parmi les vivants

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