البتراء من جديد؟ السرديَّتان الإسلامية والبيزنطية لل"فتوحات"

Quote: Unfortunately for Crone and Holland, while Mecca is situated in a ‘dry valley’, the Hijaz region is well-supplied with springs and Oases. The city of Medina, to which Muhammad and the first Muslims fled from Mecca in 622, was a significant oasis city that was noted for its groves and irrigation. There is substantial textual evidence for ‘Mediterranean’ type agricultural produce being grown in the area one to four days’ ride by pack animal from Mecca. There is also well-attested archaeological evidence for large-scale irrigation works in the Hijaz, in use until the modern period until the electric pump and desalination took over. Although these have been refurbished during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, many certainly date from Roman and some from Hellenistic times. One does not have to travel north over 1,000 kilometres to Abdad