Great Seljuk Empire

The first textbook introduction to the history of the Great Seljuk Islamic Empire to be published in English. The Great Seljuk Empire was the Turkish state which dominated the Middle East and Central Asia in the 11th and 12th centuries. This book surveys that period, which was one of exceptional importance, witnessing profound demographic, religious, political and social changes in the Islamic Middle East. The Turkish invasions played a role in provoking the Crusades, led to the collapse of Byzantine power in Anatolia and brought about the beginnings of Turkish settlement in what is now Turkey and Iran, permanently altering their ethnic and linguistic composition.The first book in a western language to offer an overview of this major Islamic empire; It provides a narrative history and a thematic analysis of the empire's institutions and aspects of life in the Seljuk world; examines the political, administrative, military, religious, economic and social organisation of the Great Seljuk Empire using a wide variety of historical and literary sources; draws on the evidence of archaeology and material culture; Illustrated with images, maps, charts and family trees and text boxes introduce key themes and institutions.

'The Great Seljuk Empire is a truly impressive piece of scholarship that provides arguably the first full-length overview of Seljuk history in English and demonstrates Peacock's considerable experience in this area. It will also appeal to a broad audience. I am sure that students and non-specialists will find Peacock's engaging manner accessible, whilst appreciating the trouble he takes explaining key terms and concepts. For specialists, interested in the key thematic debates on this subject, this work provides new insights, but it also acts as a much-needed benchmark, drawing together the various studies produced thus far and reflecting upon their implications when considered as a corpus. In general, I am fully in agreement with Deborah Tor that this will rapidly become "a standard work in the field".'--Nicholas Morton, Nottingham Trent University "Al-Masāq, Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean ", 'Andrew Peacock is to be commended on the challenge undertaken. He has produced 'the first serious overall study of the Great Seljuk Empire which has ever existed'. Our reviewer was impressed by the fact that the book is 'very well and clearly organised' and written in a 'pleasing style which renders it remarkably accessible to the reader'. The book 'places strong emphasis on the nomadic background of the Seljuks, and on the continued importance of their relations with the nomadic Turks who they led as well as were often in conflict with. This is something which the sources, the majority of which were written by bureaucrats or clerics - and certainly not by the Seljuks themselves or other Turks - has tended to obscure'. In short, Andrew Peacock has produced 'a most remarkable book'.'--British-Kuwait Friendship Society Book Prize

A. C. S. Peacock is Lecturer in Middle Eastern History at the University of St Andrews.