Hayvanlar ve Tarih: İslam Tarihi Kaynağı Olarak Dokuzuncu Yüzyıl Hayvan Kitapları Üzerine Bir İnceleme
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In the nascent years of Islam, oral culture held primacy over the development of a written tradition. Consequently, following the Qurʾān and ḥadīth—the initial two sources of Islamic history—oral materials such as poetry, akhbār, ayyām al-ʿArab, and ansāb were also regarded as among the earliest historical sources. The earliest extant works of historiography were produced in the form of ḥadīth, sīra, and maghāzī books. In subsequent centuries, however, a variety of additional genres emerged, including general histories, ṭabaqāt, wafayāt, works of literature, futūḥ and city histories, as well as geographical writings. However, it is imperative to acknowledge the significance of books dedicated to animals and animal science, which constitute a distinct genre. These texts, too, contain data that is of considerable value for Islamic historical research. Animals played a pivotal role in all segments of society, thus garnering significant attention in poetic and akhbār traditions. In the centuries that followed, this accumulated knowledge and experience led to the production of independent works specifically devoted to animals. Despite the tendency of animal books to be composed within the realms of literature, zoology, or lexicography, these texts should not be regarded as confined to a single genre or discipline. A thorough examination of these works can yield substantial historical information pertinent to Islamic history. These sources offer insights into social practices, economic concerns, cultural perceptions, and knowledge transmission that may not be explicitly or systematically addressed in mainstream historiographical works. Consequently, the present article approaches animal books not only as literary or scientific compilations but also as materials that may be read and evaluated as historical sources. Consequently, the study analyzes—through a series of selected illustrations—the potential of animal books to be regarded as sources for Islamic history and the insights they might offer into the past. The central objective of the present article is to demonstrate that books concerning animals and veterinary medicine can be utilized as historical sources for the study of Islamic history. Methodologically, the article employs inductive reasoning and document analysis. By amassing pertinent textual evidence and subjecting it to comparative analysis, the study contends for the historiographical potential of animal-related literature and underscores its contribution to a more comprehensive understanding of early Islamic society and historical writing.
Author: Velioğlu, Tuğba
Institution: Giresun University
Language: Turkish
Topic: Islamic Studies and History
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7216660737