REVISITING MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION: A SOCIAL HISTORY APPROACH

Abstract

This study aims to re-examine Islamic civilization in the medieval period through a social history approach that positions society as the primary actor in the formation and transformation of civilization. The study departs from a critique of conventional historiography that tends to emphasize political elites and prominent intellectual figures, thereby overlooking the social dynamics that sustained Islamic civilization. This research employs a qualitative historical–social approach, using library research and historical document analysis as data collection techniques, drawing on relevant primary and secondary sources related to the Abbasid context. Data were analyzed using narrative analysis and historical content analysis to uncover social structures, intergroup relations, and everyday social practices of medieval Muslim society. The findings indicate that medieval Islamic civilization was supported by a relatively open social structure, an appreciation of knowledge as social capital, and the existence of intellectual institutions such as the Bait al-Hikmah, which functioned both as a social space and a symbol of civilization. Knowledge was not understood as an individual endeavor, but rather as a collective social practice integrated with power, economy, and culture. These findings affirm that the advancement of Islamic civilization was the result of complex and multilayered social processes, rather than merely the product of political dominance or exceptional individuals. Theoretically, this study contributes to Islamic civilization studies by reinforcing the relevance of the social history approach. Practically, the findings are relevant for the development of a more critical and contextualized approach to Islamic history education and open avenues for further research on the social dynamics of non-elite groups in Islamic history.