This book provides a thorough overview of the current state of Islamic historical studies and an analysis of some characteristic methods and problems. By presenting some possible lines of inquiry and research strategies, Humphreys explores the elements which might be used to construct a persuasive and well-integrated synthesis of Islamic history from A.D. 600 to 1500. He provides a comprehensive survey of the sources and reference tools available to historians and proposes ways to use existing resources to extend our knowledge of medieval Islamic history.

R. Stephen Humphries is professor of history and King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.