It is easy to assume that Arab history began with the coming of the Prophet Mohammed. This book, however, concerned with the history of the Arabs ... during the first six centuries AD. the subject is presented within the setting of Syriac Christianity, because, although millions of Arabs came to profess Christianity, no distinctive Arab Church came into being. Christianity, however, considerably and increasingly influenced culture and history within a Near-Eastern sphere. Beginning with a...

It is easy to assume that Arab history began with the coming of the Prophet Mohammed. This book, however, concerned with the history of the Arabs ... during the first six centuries AD. the subject is presented within the setting of Syriac Christianity, because, although millions of Arabs came to profess Christianity, no distinctive Arab Church came into being.

Christianity, however, considerably and increasingly influenced culture and history within a Near-Eastern sphere.

Beginning with a general introduction, sketching the background of the Arabs before the Christian era, the author moves on to examine the history of the northern Arabs. This is followed by a survey of what little information exists about Christian influence on the Arabs of the Peninsula. The book concludes with a discussion of the reason for the inability of Christianity to appeal to nomads.

Although the basic facts upon which the book rests have been discussed and elucidated by various scholars, Dr Trimingham's study is probably the first to piece them together to present an absorbing and intelligible commentary on the history of the Arabs within the region, before the rise of Islam. The book will, therefore, be invaluable to readers concerned with the history of early Christianity and to those interested in the history of the Arabs, Muslim, and Christian Alike.