Dennis wrote
> Thanks for your fascinating potted history of the Khazars.
> I was going to reply to Pavel's post myself, but you beat me to it.
And there's very little I can add. For once we seem to be in
agreement.
Thanks....
> Just a note - Jews (and Christians) as dhimmis enjoyed a special
protection (Ar. dhimmah) under the Caliphate, not just toleration.
The
Jews in particular, in stark contrast to their position in medieval
Christendom, flourished under Islamic rule.
Yes, the situation under Abd al Rahman III in Cordova, where Arab
rulers had Jewish Viziers is a true case of active religious amity.
> I also don't think the Khazar wars had very much to do with the
course and success of the Abbasid revolution. By 750 the Ummayyads
had
alienated just about every faction within the Islamic empire, and
their finances were in such a mess that only a radical shake-up of
the
whole social order could resolve the situation. Which was what the
Abbasids provided.
It is interesting that Merwan, the last Ummayyad ruler seems to have
been quite capable (although exhausted and suffering illhealth from
his long campaigns). It is interesting to speculate on the "might
have been's" (what if he had had more time... what if.... etc). From
Brinton's comparative study of revolutions, the Abbasid case is
almost
a clasic pre-modern example. A state in bancrupcy, poor rulers
replaced by a more reasonable one creating rising expectations for
reform, bitterly dashed as a result of a catalytic financial crisis,
falling status for middle class traders and merchants, a peasant
revolt, etc.
> The only thing I would disagree with is your statement that Arthur
Koestler's (theory that the Ashkenazim are in the main the
descendants
of the Khazars) has been disproved. I read his book long ago and
found
his arguments quite convincing. Also, in a paper entitled "Has
Genetic
Science Closed the Question of Origin of Ashkenazi Jews?" which you
can read at
> http://www.khazaria.com/genetics/friedman.html
> the author Daniel Friedman concludes "..the question of origin of
Ashkenazi Jewry is far from closed. "
Yes I have just come upon the site, and it does suggest that things
are not as closed as "In the Blood" suggests.
Warm Regards
John