The Arabic alphabet has a rich history, one that is closely linked with the development of culture and society in the Middle East. In this comprehensive introduction the authors trace the origins of the Arabic alphabet back to Aramaic, which also gave rise to the Hebrew and Greek alphabets. Using detailed illustrations the authors investigate early Arabic papyri and early Islamic inscriptions as well as classical Arabic scripts. John F. Healey and G. Rex Smith bring the story up to the present day by examining the practice of calligraphy, printing and computing in Arabic.

This volume brings together a set of widely scattered articles spanning some thirty years of research on early and medieval Yemen and South Arabia. They cover the political and military history of the area, from the beginning of Islam to the Ottoman conquest in 1517, with the establishment of the Zaydis and then the Ayyubids as key events. Particular attention is given to the 13th century, and questions of trade and historical geography. The work of the traveller Ibn al-Mujawir, the subject of a series of studies, also provides much information on the society and beliefs of the period, including magic and sexual practices.

This book is the fourth and final collection of Professor R.B. Serjeant's articles on the trade, commerce and society of South Arabia and the Yemen. The early articles concern trade; customary law is the next subject represented with social history and one or two incidental articles completing the volume.