The Story of the Saracens

“Thus, amid the groans of dying thousands, and the wild exultations of a horde of victorious Tartars and Monguls, the kalifate that had created Bagdad, and for five hundred years had made it a magnificent centre of art, science, and letters, was forever extinguished; but Islam did not die.”

In 1258 the great Islamic city of Baghdad fell to Mongols.

The Fall of Baghdad saw the end of an Islamic Golden Age of science, economic development and culture.

Arthur Gilman covers the intricate details of the Muslims historically and collectively known as Saracens by the West, from their earliest days to the end of the Golden Age.

Their characteristics, their culture, beliefs, myths and the effect this civilisation had on modern life, is covered in great accuracy in this historical account.

The Story of the Saracens begins with the civilisation that once inhabited the rocky, barren deserts East of the Red Sea.

Living in tents, trading merchandise across the deserts and feeding on dates and tamarind, these people led a simplistic life

How did these mysterious tribes of the desert develop into the illustrious Golden Age of Islam?

What myths did they believe? What did these people make of ghosts, fairies, goblins, and jinn?

What was the relevance of sacred stones?

Upon the emergence of the Prophet Mohammed, Gilman demonstrates how his experiences determined his learnings.

Peaceful as their existence was, the Saracens came under threat from other civilisations… a path that would put them on a bloody road to the Fall of Baghdad…

Through The Story of the Saracens, Gilman portrays the roots of the Muslim religion and the origins of their beliefs.

Arthur Gilman (1837-1909) was the son of a banker and originally from Wales. Following in his father’s footsteps, Gilman went into banking, but due to poor health, devoted himself to education and literary work. He also wrote First Steps in English Literature (1870), History of the American People, (1883) and Tales of the Pathfinders (1884).