Information about Sicily in Ibn Hawqal's work "al-Masalik wal-Mamalik"

Abstract

Abstract.The conquest of Sicily by the Arabs was accompanied by radical changes in its social-political andreligious-spiritual situation. Although the island has an Islamized effect at first glance, the influence ofancient Greek philosophy, Byzantine and Slavic cultures can be seen here. Medieval Arab sources note thatthe people of Sicily were not very pious. These records can be considered as a characteristic of laterMuslimized societies. The Muslims who came to Sicily as part of the Arab-Berber troops and consolidatedhere mingled with the local population, as a result of which a new society was created, distinguished by anumber of peculiarities. Although some of the local Sicilians have converted to Islam, they do not have the same status as Muslims in society. Berbers looked down on the local population. The conquest of Sicily wasnot very easy for the Arabs, both geographically and because of the plague that covered the island, and it wasalso difficult and painful for the local population. The presence of the interests of the Byzantine Empiremade the situation even more difficult.
Sicily was a very affordable place to live. The nature of the island-both flora and fauna, as well as naturalresources made this place very attractive. Apparently, this is precisely why the Muslims who conqueredSicily in the middle of the 9th century did not want to leave the name. It should be noted that at one time notmany people lived here. After the Muslims conquered this place, African people flocked here, they settledand settled here. They made a nice living.
It should also be noted that the life of the Arab culture that arose in Sicily was longer than the Arab politicalpower in this country. The Arabic literature formed here continued to develop under the patronage of theNorman kings for about a century after the Arab rule was ended by the Normans. Norman kings patronizedwriters and poets and invited them to their palaces.
Key words:Sicilian literature,Palermo,SicilyunderArab rule,Arabic literature that originated in the West,Muslim Sicily