Political Conditions of the Jibal Region in Yaqut al-Hamawi’s Muʿjam al-Buldan

Abstract

Abstract:

This study examines the political history of the cities of the region of Jibal (al‑Jibal region) through the work Muʿjam al‑Buldan by the geographer Yaqut al‑Hamawi (d. 626 AH). The research begins by presenting a brief biography of Yaqut al-Hamawi and an overview of his book Muʿjam al-Buldan. It highlights his early life as a Byzantine slave in Baghdad, followed by his scholarly travels to Bilad al‑Sham, Khorasan, and Egypt. The study also discusses his methodology in compiling geographical and historical materials, drawing on earlier geographical sources such as Ibn Khordadbeh (d. 300 AH/912 CE) and al‑Istakhri (d. 346 AH/957 CE), as well as historical works such as those of al‑Baladhuri (d. 279 AH/892 CE). In addition, the research emphasizes Yaqut’s reliance on personal observation as an important source for collecting his material.

The study further focuses on the political events experienced by the cities of the region of Jibal, beginning with the region’s subordination to the Sasanian Empire prior to the Islamic Conquests, and continuing with developments during the Islamic expansion into these cities. It also provides brief references to the Umayyad Caliphate and the Abbasid Caliphate, as well as to the succession of ruling powers in the region, including the Buyid Dynasty and the Seljuk Empire. Moreover, the study includes scattered references to the Mongol Invasion which reached the region of Jibal in 617 AH/1220 CE—an event personally witnessed by Yaqut al-Hamawi. Although Muʿjam al-Buldan is primarily a geographical work, it reflects a clear form of geopolitical awareness that links place with political authority.

The study concludes that Muʿjam al-Buldan constitutes an important source for studying the political history of the region, as it contains valuable historical information that helps in understanding the nature of political conditions in Jibal during the Islamic periods. It therefore becomes evident that Muʿjam al-Buldan was not merely a geographical dictionary, but also a historical source that contributes to understanding the broader political development of the region of Jibal in the medieval Islamic era.