[.ca] Daily Life In Ancient And Modern Baghdad (ISBN 0822532190)

Dawn Kotapish's Daily Life in Ancient and Modern Baghdad:
An excellent book with an informative text and colorful illustrations, but it contains a number of errors that can be rectified in an updated edition. Among the glaring errors: (p.4) Kotapish states that "the Republic of Iraq was founded in 1932 ..." whereas the Republic of Iraq was founded in 1958. The Monarchical State of Iraq was founded in 1932 upon its independence from Great Britain. (p.7) "... to a tiny Persian village named Baghdad." Prior to Islam, the region in which the village of Baghdad was located was ruled by the Persians, but the indegenous inhabitants were not Persian. (p.32) Kotapish mistakenly reverses the people in the civil war. The Persians sided with al-Ma'mun while the Arabs sided with al-Amin--- and not the other way around. (p 51) Replace "Abdul Karim Qassam" with the correct Abdul Karim Qasim for the name of the prime minister in 1958-1963. (pages 19 and 30)Sections are negative on role and rights of women in ancient Islam. While much is made of social frivolity, there is no mention made of the considerable charitable works of early Muslim women in Baghdad. For example, Zubaydah, cousin-wife of the caliph Harun al-Rashid, herself commissioned the construction of wells for Hajj pilgrims along the 900-mile road between Baghdad and Makkah (Mecca) that today still bears her name. And were there women who achieved distinction in the arts, music, literary wit, religion and even as warrior maidens commanding troops. Attention to rectifying these errors and omissions would greatly enhance the value of this timely subject.