Gerhard Endress is professor of Islamic Studies at Ruhr University. Carole Hillenbrand is professor of Islamic Studies at Edinburgh University.

An accurate picture of the interplay of religious inspiration and historical circumstances which shaped Islamic history from its inception... It reflects a distinct sensitivity to the nuances of the subject culture, combined with a clear command of the scholarly sources. MESA Bulletin An invaluable and convenient source of information. Journal of Semitic Studies (of the 1st ed.)

• I Introduction: The Concept and Unity of Islamic History II Europe and Islam: The HIstory of a Science III Islam: Religion and Legal System IV The Islamic World: Society and Economy V A Regional View of Islamic History VI Periods of Islamic History VII Appendix: Languages, Names and the Calendar of Islam VII Chronological Table