1st Edition

Related Worlds - Studies in Jewish and Arab Ancient and Early Medieval History

By Moshe Gil Copyright 2004
    352 Pages
    by Routledge

    352 Pages
    by Routledge

    An element common to all the articles collected here is the attempt to make parallel use of sources from different cultures - Biblical and Talmudic Hebrew, Greek and Latin, Arabic and Judaeo-Arabic - comparing these different but complementary sources in the investigation of topics in Jewish and Arabic history. In the first studies Professor Gil deals primarily with the Roman and Byzantine periods, elucidating how a Biblical term was understood, the historical significance of passages from the Mishna, and the origins of the Book of Enoch. The next group is concerned with the history of early Islam, during the years in which the Prophet Muhammad lived and worked, and later traditions of this period. The final studies are based specifically on sources from the Cairo Geniza, and examine a term of Greek origin and questions of taxation and commerce.

    Contents: Preface; The lulim of the Temple; Yohanan the High Priest and the priestly gifts; If a man sold a courtyard...; The Ethiopic Book of Enoch reconsidered; Mesiqin; The Medinan opposition to the prophet; The creed of Abu 'Amir; The story of Bahira and its Jewish versions; The earliest waqf foundations; Religion and realities in Islamic taxation; Maintenance, building operations, and repairs in the houses of the qodesh in Fustat: a Geniza study; The term aqolithos in medieval Jewish deeds; Supplies of oil in medieval Egypt: a Geniza study; References to silk in Geniza documents of the 11th century A.D.; Index.

    Biography

    Moshe Gil is Emeritus Professor of Jewish History in the Diaspora Research Institute, Tel Aviv University, Israel.