12 ғасырдағы араб саяхатшысы Усама ибн Мункидтің өмірбаяны

Kitab al I'tibar (كتاب الاعتبار, The Book of Learning by Example) is the autobiography of Usama ibn Munqidh, an Arab Syrian diplomat, soldier of the 12th century, hunter, poet and nobleman. The book was first discovered in 1880 in the Real Biblioteca del Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, Spain). It exists as 134 folios with the first 21 pages missing and is considered a copy of a copy of the original made in July 1213. However it remains the only version available to date. Hartwig Derenbourg (1844 1908) was the first to mention the manuscript in his three volumes book "Les manuscrits arabes de l'Escurial" (1884 1903) and his book "Ousama ibn Mounkidh, un émir syrien" (1889) when he studied, transcribed and published the work. Philip K. Hitti (1886 – 1978) added to his work in his publication "An Arab Syrian Gentlemen in the Period of the Crusades: Memoirs of Usamah ibn Munqidh", with the latest edition published in 2000 by Columbia University Press. Usamah's autobiography is part of the literary genre known as adab which aims at "pleasing, diverting and titilating" its readers, as well as instructing them. Philip K. Hitti, in the introduction to his translation, describes the work as superior to other Arabic biographies. According to him, It gives us a glimpse into Syrian methods of warfare, hawking and medication, and ushers us into the intimacies of Moslem court life as well as private home life It also offers an insight into the mindset of Arabic knights as they interacted with the crusaders as friends, fought against them as enemies and on matters of religion and politics.

Much of the autobiography addresses the material culture of the time. It describes wealthier society members, including their houses, clothes and valued possessions. There is much detail on military society as Usama was involved in many battles against Christians and fellow Muslims, including attitudes towards the Christian crusaders. It provides an idea of the internal political structure as Usama served under the Fatimid court in Egypt and under Nur al Din. Usama provides information on medical practices, religion and hunting.

Usama gives us a record of how warfare was conducted. One of the main themes of the book is that the outcome of warfare is pre determined: 'Victory in warfare is from Allah and is not due to organisation and planning nor to the number of troops and supporters., He describes how discipline was maintained while marching through enemy territory:

making our stops at the call of the bugle and starting again at the call of the bugle. Siege warfare was much more common than open battles; Usama describes the practice of mining, digging a tunnel under a castle and then setting light to the wooden supports so the tunnel would collapse taking the tower of the castle with it. Usama also gives us information on the sort of armour and arms that were used. The lance was a very important weapon; Usama describes using lances in the battle of Kafartab:

We dislodged from them eighteen knights, of whom some received lance blows and died, others received lance blows and fell off their horses and died, and still others received lance blows which fell on their horses and became footmen. The sword was also a high status weapon. Usama describes how his father's sword cut through his groom's outfit while it was still in its sheath:

The sword cut through the outfit, the silver sandal, a mantle and a wooden shawl which the groom had on, and then cut through the bone of his elbow. The whole forearm fell off. The sword was subsequently named after his father's groom.

Usama's autobiography can tell us a lot about various aspects of Islamic society during the 12th century. It can tell us about the material culture as well as the political and religious customs of the time. It reveals the fragmented and disunited nature of
the Muslim world and the internal divisions and rivalries.