The Armies of the Caliphs: Military and Society in the Early Islamic State

Warfare and History

by Hugh Kennedy

The Armies of the Caliphs is the first major study of the relationship between army and society in the early Islamic period, and reveals the pivotal role of the military in politics.

Through a thorough examination of recruitment, payment, weaponry and fortifications in the armies, The Armies of the Caliphs offers the most comprehensive view to date of how the early Muslim Empire grew to control so many people. Using Arabic chronicles, surviving documents, and archaeological evidence, this book analyzes the military and the face of battle, and offers a timely reassessment of the early Islamic State.

Genres: History, Islam, Middle East, War, Nonfiction, Medieval History

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2001

About the author

NOTE: There is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Hugh^Kennedy

Has studies Arabic at the Middle East Centre for Arabic Studies. Went on to read Arabic, Persian & History at Cambridge. Taught in the Department of Medieval History at St Andrews since 1972, and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2000).

Reviews

[Simon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very readable volume from Hugh Kennedy, which added further layers of depth and detail to my understanding of the Umayyad/Abbasid period which is covered chronologically from the early conquests to the collapse of Abbasid power in the 10th Century. The book manages to discuss the evidence for what we know about the organisation of the military in this period without seeming to become bogged down and remains entertaining. The focus is on specifics and there is not a huge amount of background context given. The expectation is that if you are reading this book then you have probably already read some of Kennedy's more general books and are down with your Early Islamic history. If that's the case then you'll find this a rewarding read, if not, try some of his others first, they'll all excellent.

[Zachary Moore]

I read this book after reading Kennedy's later work on the Arab conquests--they make nice companion volumes. This book is filled with useful information and details not available in many other sources. Following the work allows the reader a good idea of how the Islamic military establishment developed from the time of the Prophet to the dissolution of the Caliph's authority in the tenth century.