Arabs, Arabias, and Epigraphy - Mr. Michael C.A. Macdonald (Full Interview)

Mr. Michael C.A. Macdonald is one of the great names of Arabian Studies. He pioneered the field of Ancient North Arabian and made invaluable contributions to the history of Arabia and the nomads of the Near East as well as their languages, and scripts. He is also a research associate of the Khalili Research Centre, honorary fellow of Wolfson College, University of Oxford, fellow of the British Academy and is a Trustee of the International Association for the Study of Arabia.
References:
Mr. Michael C.A Macdonald Academia page
oxford.academia.edu/MichaelMa...
Arabs, Arabias and Arabic before Late Antiquity
www.persee.fr/doc/topoi_1161-...
Arabs and Empires Before the Sixth Century
almuslih.org/.../Macdonald,%2....
Online Corpus of the Inscriptions of Ancient North Arabia (OCIANA)
krc.web.ox.ac.uk/article/ociana

[@mystarmedo-qu8un]

Fabulous interview with a distinguished scholar. Not only does Micheal Macdonald invade you with his enormous knowledge, he also charms you with his kindness and generosity. Really great.

[@TheGoodOldNas]

I’m going to binge watch all these interviews. Jazak’Allah khair for all these academic perspectives and people brought on. I would love to see Sean w Anthony or Gabriel Reynolds on!

[@stevenv6463]

I got into epigraphy of the Arabian peninsuila through Ahmad al Jallad. Glad to hear another expert speak on the topic. It is quite fascinating and I never realized that it is some of the only preserved language that isn't Greek, Roman or Aramaic from that time period as the professor said.

[@petergrimshaw492]

Really interesting, thankyou both

[@skepsislamica]

Where have you been at? We've missed your input.

[@nadera1830]

Fascinating, I think to fill some gabs about the unification of these ancient north Arabian dialects we may have to consider polytheism and the creation of annual Festivals around Mecca few centuries before Islam, Mecca was central location for the trade route of Incense and spices, Festivals like du almajjaz, Ukadh, Mijannah, and Mecca had religious, economic, and political importance, where bedouin and city settlers attended every year. For example, contests of poetry were one feature of the Festival of Ukadh where judges tests contestants and announce winners just like the Greek contests. Actually, what gave the greak Panhellenic identity was to some extent those religious festivals where many Greeks from all cities attended games and religious temples. Similarly, the Arab Festivals, especially theose around Mecca because they were free of taxation unlike the other Festivals around the Levant and Mesopotamia, were important factor in forming the Maccan dialect as the standard for Arabic Language. With those interactions of different dialects and groups, and the standardization of Arabic poetry in those Festivals, the Arabic Language started to become more unified from many dialects. Considering the oldest poetry line we founded in Safaiatic inscription which is closer to to what we call poetry of Jahiliah, we can date those Festivals and know that they existed in the times of Safaiatic inscriptions.

[@mozlemboi4690]

I used to hear the arguement when I was younger that Mecca didn’t exist and there was no trade route so you disagree with such a point?

[@imaginationscene]

Not finished watching but great interview and questions asked 🙂👍

[@skepsislamica]

Thank you

[@ibrahimhercules9466]

Proto-Arabian Ethnic group formed in Northern Arabia (northern part of Saudi Arabia and Southern Jordan and Southern Syria)..

[@11101983omega]

Absolutely amazing scholar, does not matter what he teaches his students will shine. Bravo and Salute Dr Michael.

[@user-nl3hg7xy7m]

Most of the Arabian epigraphy was robbed by the antiques thieves. Some of the epigraphy was sold to museums or slod to rich people in Europe. Some were forged such as Mish inscription which was found in Jordan, This Misha inscription was proved to be forged by a Palestinian jew named Musa Shapiro and a Palestinian christian named Salim Al Qari. Besides, there was Moshe Dayan, the zionist war minister, who was famous for being antiques thief, who stole all he found in Sinai. Mr. Epigraphy expert, what are you going to talk about? Muhammad did this and did that.

[@deemusarron3958]

if only i had the chance to ask question to some of the answers and statements he gave that those that dont know are oblivious to!he has rewrote the true history of the true arabs(those that spoke real arabic with words that most arab countries would know or have a clue and these words are in the scripture???)see what the prophet said he was and about yemen ie yemen,oman,southern saudi,parts of the horn of africa,ask yourself why its hardly or never mentioned?,also it's only right if someone like i made a claim l urge those searching for real truth to ask real questions and if 2 disagree to look at both sides,the wiping of history or distorting truth has been going on since way back and nothing new,sadly the majority who are fast asleep are oblivious.

[@maskedwriters-qk3tq]

Lol you funny guys The new heberw don't even know what the old hebewr speaks And are you fuking talking about Language and writing doesn't work like that On your logic we would say the german don't speak german because they don't know and understand ancient german

[@mofadel]

stop with the mythical nonsense lil bro 😕😆

[@deemusarron3958]

he mentioned the inscriptions in south arabia (yemen,oman and south saudia) similar to ethiopia,its because south arabia,ethiopia and parts of the horn of africa was all one empire of the queen of sheeba,even the arabic we speak,a lot of words which the other so called arabs wouldnt have a clue,he mentioned the north speak close to hebrew,the hebrew spoken in yemen is the most preserved hebrew compared to so called hebrew arabic spoken,sadly i disagree with a few things mentioned,he keeps saying the nomads from southern syria and north arabia???????? the only nomads were from southern arabia who travelled up north to syria trading stopping half way in mecca,why deceive the masses and try change history????????????

[@ibrahimhercules9466]

Hahaha😂🤣😂😂 Zionist

[@ibrahimhercules9466]

Proto-Arabian Ethnic group formed in Northern Arabia (northern part of Saudi Arabia and Southern Jordan and Southern Syria)

[@4izm0v]

They are talking about scripts and epigraphy. You are jumping to conclusions based on myths and misinformation. Arabic did develop in the Southern Levant, read about the Qedarites and Nabateans. In Yemen, Oman and south Saudi Arabia, still survive Semitic languages that are closer to Ethiopian languages than to Arabic, Aramaic or Hebrew.

[@maskedwriters-qk3tq]

What are you talking about kids

[@maskedwriters-qk3tq]

Ethiopia inhabited originally came from Africa