Arabian Jewry at the Advent of Islam: Readings in Primary Texts

Who were the Jews of Arabia at the advent of Islam in the 7th century? How can we read early Arabo-Islamic biographical sources to conduct a social history of this community?  Dr. Yaara Perlman will lead students through an examination of primary Arabic text (side-by-side with translation) to learn how places, names, and tribal affiliations serve as historiographical clues. Dr. Perlman will show how the textual evidence contributes to our knowledge of Arabian Jewry in the early Islamic period.