The Ib??? traders of Bil?d al-S?d?n

Abstract

This thesis deals with the trans-Saharan commercial links between the Maghreb and BilÄ d al-SÅ«dÄ n from the 1st till 5th century AH, and the role the IbÄ á¸ Ä« community played in establishing these links. IbÄ á¸ Ä« merchants monopolized the trans-Saharan trade due to their alliances with local Berber tribes and their predisposition to trade, dating from their inception history in Basra. Missionary efforts by IbÄ á¸ Ä« traders to BilÄ d al-SÅ«dÄ n led to the introduction of Islam in BilÄ d al-SÅ«dÄ n, as well as the introduction of other Islamic traditions and customs. Both religion and trade where of the utmost importance for the IbÄ á¸ Ä« community in the Maghreb and thus a compromise between both had to be found. With the research presented in this thesis, I will show how the IbÄ á¸ Ä« community became the most important player in trans-Saharan trade and how they were able to hold on to this position until their demise at the beginning of the 4th century. Another significant result of trans-Saharan trade is the considerable impact that IbÄ á¸ Ä« traders had on both religious and cultural customs of the people of BilÄ d al-SÅ«dÄ n. As a side note I will also tentatively argue that the importance of trade for the IbÄ á¸ Ä« community in the Maghreb must have had some influence on the way IbÄ á¸ Ä«sm manifested itself.