Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Rivkin · 12th May 2005, 09:59 PM

I must add that nowhere I've seen any references to Saladin's arab soldiers, there are dozens more medieval and modern texts I can cite, and they all speak of seljuks, turks, mamluks, blacks, but not arabs (even through no one argues agains the existance of powerful arab Caliphs and commanders of that time).

I have also to note that I excluded works of caucasian nationalists such as Nasidze, due to some noticable "pro-caucasian" bias in them. I also have to note that a lot of powerful arab historians seem to diverge in their opinions from the mainstream when it comes to certain "issues", such as the existance of pre-roman judea or the degree of islamization and arabization of islamic armies of 10-19th centuries. I don't want to comment on who is right in this discussion, but merely trying to portray the current state of historical affairs.

To what all this discussion goes ? It goes to what kind of weapons were used by islamic armies in Egypt/Palestine/Syria in the time of Saladin - turkish arms seem to be somewhat appropriate to be used by these armies.

On the depictions of islamic armies of XII-XIII century (which I hope I will be able to post soon) I've seen both straight and curved swords.

I really hope my ignorant verses will be corrected by more knowladgable forum members.

12th May 2005, 09:59 PM	#2
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	I must add that nowhere I've seen any references to Saladin's arab soldiers, there are dozens more medieval and modern texts I can cite, and they all speak of seljuks, turks, mamluks, blacks, but not arabs (even through no one argues agains the existance of powerful arab Caliphs and commanders of that time). I have also to note that I excluded works of caucasian nationalists such as Nasidze, due to some noticable "pro-caucasian" bias in them. I also have to note that a lot of powerful arab historians seem to diverge in their opinions from the mainstream when it comes to certain "issues", such as the existance of pre-roman judea or the degree of islamization and arabization of islamic armies of 10-19th centuries. I don't want to comment on who is right in this discussion, but merely trying to portray the current state of historical affairs. To what all this discussion goes ? It goes to what kind of weapons were used by islamic armies in Egypt/Palestine/Syria in the time of Saladin - turkish arms seem to be somewhat appropriate to be used by these armies. On the depictions of islamic armies of XII-XIII century (which I hope I will be able to post soon) I've seen both straight and curved swords. I really hope my ignorant verses will be corrected by more knowladgable forum members.