Arab studies or Arabic studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Arabs and Arab World. It consists of several disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, linguistics, historiography, archaeology, cultural studies, economics, geography, international relations, law, literature, philosophy, psychology, political science, and public administration.[Studies in the History of the Near East - Page 28 113627331X P.M. Holt - 2013 "He held the post until his death in 1624 and was succeeded by his former pupil, James Golius (1596–1667). Erpenius and Golius made outstanding contributions to the development of Arabic studies by their teaching, their preparation of texts, ..."][Arnoud Vrolijk, Richard van Leeuwen Arabic Studies in the Netherlands: A Short History in Portraits, 900426633X - 2013 "The following portraits of the most distinguished Dutch Arabists are placed in their historical and intellectual context in order to show how intimately the development of Arabic studies is entwined with European and Dutch history."][C. H. M. Versteegh, Kees Versteegh - The Arabic Language - Page 6 0748614362 2001 "In this introduction, we have traced the development of Arabic studies and stressed the connection between the study of Arabic and that of Hebrew and the other Semitic languages. Since the Second World War, Arabic studies have become ..."] The field draws from old Arabic chronicles, records and oral literature, in addition to written accounts and traditions about Arabs from explorers and Geographer in the Arab world (Middle East-North Africa).
History
Arab studies talk about the history of the Middle East and North Africa, before the rise of Islam to the present time. Covering a wide range of topics, such as
Methodology, approaches,
Colonialism,
gender, environmental and legal dimensions. It depends on the
Politics,
Economy,
social and
Arab world.
Linguistic
Arabic is a language spoken by more than 422 million people from the
Pacific Ocean to the
Persian Gulf, as the Arabs say.
This includes
Morocco,
Mauritania and
Western Sahara in the west, and extends to
Iraq, the Gulf states and
Somalia in the east. The official language of 26 countries, one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It is also the sacred language of over 1.7 billion
around the world,
and the language written by some of the greatest works of literature, science and history in the
world.
According to the teachings of
Islam,
classical Arabic is the language in which
God chose to speak to mankind through
Muhammad in the seventh century of the
Anno Domini. It is the language of the
Quran, the
Religious text of Islam. This is the language of Islamic and classical texts.
Modern Arabic is the language of
, news broadcasts,
poetry and
Politics speeches throughout the Arab world,
a language that every child in primary school learns to read and write, a diverse language of
Arabic poetry, the precise language of theologians and theologians of the Internet. Knowledge of Arabic provides an opportunity to connect with people throughout the
Middle East, providing access to the richness and passion of the contemporary Arab world. Arabic is a way to explore nearly 14 centuries of one of the most sophisticated, diverse, and rich intellectual traditions in the world.
Themes
Themes within Arab studies include:
Culture and society
Arab culture and society in the Arab world, from
,
,
Arabic Art,
Arabic poetry,
Arabic alphabet, practices, and definitions of
Arab identity, based on
anthropology,
sociology,
literature and religious studies.
Development
Development and political economy in the Arab world, focusing on economic and social development,
education,
humanitarian aid, and gender and environmental dimensions of development. This concentration is based on economic history, political economy, sociology and politics.
Politics
Contemporary political developments in the Arab world and the Middle East. The program covers the study of domineering,
Arab nationalism, local institutions, politics, war, peacemaking, identity, security policies and environmental security. It relies on comparative policies, international relations,
history,
science, political economy and development.
History of Arabs
[[File:Map of expansion of Caliphate.svg|thumb|220px|Expansion of the Arab empire.
]]
To understand the history of Arabs provides the indispensable basis to understand all aspects of Arabs and its culture. Themes of special interest are:
-
History of the Arabs
-
Early Arab conquests
Theology
Kalam () is one of the "religious sciences" of Islam.
In
Arabic language, the word means "discussion" and refers to the Arabic tradition of seeking theological principles through
dialectic. A scholar of
kalam is referred to as a
mutakallim.
Philosophy
Arabic philosophy is a part of Arab studies. It is a longstanding attempt to create harmony between
faith, reason or
philosophy, and the religious teachings of
Arabs. A Muslim engaged in this field is called an Arab philosopher. It is divided in fields like:
-
Early Arabic philosophy
-
Modern Arabic philosophy
-
List of Arab philosophers
-
Illuminationist philosophy
Sciences
Arabic science is
science in the context of traditional ideas of
Arabs, including its
ethics and prohibitions. An Arab engaged in this field is called a
Muslim scientist. This is not the same as science as conducted by any
Muslim in a secular context.
Literature
Architecture
Arabic architecture is the entire range of architecture that has evolved within
Arab culture in the course of the history of Arabs. Hence the term encompasses religious buildings as well as secular ones, historic as well as modern expressions and the production of all places that have come under the varying levels of Islamic influence.
Art
Notable Arabists
See also
-
Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
-
American Legation, Tangier
-
Arabic language academies
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Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World
-
College of Islamic and Arabic Studies, Afghanistan
-
Genetic studies on Arabs
-
Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam
-
Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies
-
Middle East Centre for Arab Studies
-
Middle East Forum
-
Middle Eastern studies
-
Orient-Institut Beirut
-
Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
-
School of Arabic Studies
-
Tribes with Flags
