The 'Abbāsid Revolution

The 'Abbāsid Revolution of the eighth century A. D. began in eastern Iran and spread from there to the rest of the Arab Empire. In this 1970 text, Dr Shaban studies the causes of this revolution, which had profound effects on Islamic society and politics, and challenges the view that it was precipitated by the failure of the Arab rulers to treat their Iranian subjects as equals of the Arabs. He maintains that the object of the revolution was the assimilation of all Muslims in the Empire into one community in which Arabs and non-Arabs would have equal rights. The social and political background of the Revolution and its causes are analysed. Dr Shaban, using extensive source material, describes the situation in eastern Iran at the time of the Arab conquest, and a discussion of the revolution itself considers the ideological content and whether it was successful in achieving its objectives.