John Bagot Glubb (1897–1986)

Whether this still stacks up as history I can't tell you, but in my eyes it's one of those histories that survive an amount of outdatedness. He has an amazing tale to tell and writes it grippingly, for a historian... but then he was a soldier-scholar, spent his service years with Jordan's Arab Legion 1930-56.

For me, he explains the conquests, as near as. At uni we were set an essay on why these great and sudden conquests happened, and after the texts that must have been the fashion I show more answered with economic and climatic factors. What nonsense -- I'm ashamed now.

Glubb, who fought with and led Arab troops -- around much of this geography -- doesn't tell you there was a drought at the right time. He explains how the tribes might be unified and how important a banner can be. In short, mental factors, and he doesn't squeeze out religious enthusiasm, as I was taught in uni. At the major battles he tells you the advantages nomad troops had and knew they had and used -- such as a night fight. Think of a people who live in tents against a people who live in towns: who's going to win at the dead of night?

This was a heroic age, if ever there was one in historical times, short-lived -- ruined of course by success. He lets you feel the spirit of the times. He picks out anecdotes that convey that spirit, and he uses them as evidence, evidence of behaviour: towards an acknowledgement of how unusual this brief age was, and how driven by human factors. He doesn't, with hindsight, forget that these conquests were impossible (except for the fact they happened) -- he doesn't assume the opposition was ripe and rotten, just because they lost.

Early in life I found this highly romantic; read it again later in life and found it valuable history. It's not that I've read much since on the Arab conquests, and I've no idea what experts think of Glubb; but it's a classic in my library. show less

A competent account of the massive expansion of the Islamic state in the century after Mohammed's death. Glubb was the commander of Jordan's Arab legion and had the resources to turn out this English language book on a relatively obscure topic. I enjoyed it as a one volume look by an informed authority.

Трудните времена правят мъжете силни.
Силните мъже правят времената лесни.
Лесните времена правят мъжете слаби.
Слабите мъже правят времената трудни.

Всички сте чували тази сентенция и сте видели известна истина в нея. Джон Глъб е видял повече истина и според него show more световните империи от зората на човечеството насам се движат по неписан път, който се оказва еднакъв за всички и продължава горе-долу 250 г.

За този период един народ набира сила, покорява тези около него, империята му достига разцвет и после следва упадък. И всички тези периоди, във всички империи в цялата история имат горе-долу еднакви характеристики.

В началото народът живее трудно, но е смел и военолюбив. Порядките са консервативни и патриархални, интелектуалната дейност не е на почит. Това позволява на държавата да надделее над останалите и да се замогне териториално и финансово.

С богатството идва постепенно и по-лесния живот за коренните жители. Настъпва разцвет на науката, изкуството и философията, нравите стават по-свободни. Народът вече не е така военолюбив, все пак има какво да губи.

Постепенно жените раждат все по-малко деца и почват все повече да се занимават с други неща, а от мъжете все по-малко се очаква да свържат живота си с войната по какъвто и да е начин.

Този процес продължава до израждане по време на западането на империята, когато на коренните жители спира съвсем да им пука за каквото и да е и най-вече за идеята на империя, за традициите им и т.н. и логично тя се разпада под натиска на други народи, по-мотивирани за успех и по-склонни да действат, отколкото да се гримират и философстват.

Или поне така вижда нещата авторът, като дава избирателни примери от историята, а други пропуска, понеже не са му удобни. Все пак, книгата е добра да се замисли човек по тия въпроси. show less

Glubb Pasha was a considerable Arabist, and his history of Islam from the Prophet to the Ottomans is a serious addition to the English knowledge of the great religion. The language is clear, and though the book is flavoured with military exploits, the author tries to give a full description of Islamic contributions to world culture in general. Any Glubb book is worth the reading.