Table of Contents

Prologue - An introduction to the problem by showing how the word Arab is used among modern Bedouin

Part I. A Presentation of the use of the word in calssical Islamic sources

Part II. A Survey of all relevant occurrencies of the work in Akkadian, Hebrew, Greek, Latin

Part III. A Synthesis of the information we have about the living conditions of the groups called Arabs

Conclusion

Bibliography

About the Author

Jan Retso was born in Norway but has been living in Sweden for more than 40 years. He got his Ph.D form Goteborg University in 1983 and was appointed full Professor of Arabic there in 1986. His main field of work is Arabic and Semitic linguistics, especially comparative and diachronic studies where he has published two monographs and a series of articles. He has also published several articles on the history of Pre-Islamic Arabia and the ancient east.

Reviews

'Hugely learned' - Times Literary Supplement

'This book is an invaluable tool and will, I am sure, find a place on the shelf of every serious scholar of the Antique and Early Islamic Middle East' - Bulletin of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies

'hugely learned' - Times Literary Supplement

'this book is an invaluable tool and will, I am sure, find a place on the shelf of every serious scholar of the Antique and Early Islamic Middle East' - Bulletin of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies