Book Description

The Arab dhow is one of the most romantic sights at sea, a seemingly timeless vessel that has been doing business around the Arabian and African coasts since medieval times. In this extensive book, the history of these ships if fully documented from primary as well as secondary sources combined with several seasons of ethnographic fieldwork. The author, Dionisius A. Agius, is Professor of Arabic Studies and Islamic Material Culture at the University of Exeter, and his book, with 63 black-and white illustrations and eight pages in colour describes the roll of the dhow in seasonal trade and commerce as well as in spreading ideas, and making connection with language, ideas and oral traditions.