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Full Name and Common Aliases


Patricia Crone was a renowned Danish-British historian specializing in the history of Islam.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on July 26, 1945, Patricia Crone passed away on May 7, 2015, at the age of 69.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Crone held both Danish and British nationalities. Her profession was primarily that of a historian, with expertise in Islamic history.

Early Life and Background


Patricia Crone grew up in London, England. She developed an interest in studying languages at a young age and later pursued her passion by attending the University of Cambridge. There, she studied Arabic and Persian before moving on to specialize in Islamic studies. This early exposure to diverse cultures and languages laid the foundation for her future academic pursuits.

Major Accomplishments


Throughout her career, Patricia Crone made significant contributions to the field of Islamic history. Her work focused extensively on the early periods of Islam and its development. She was one of the first scholars to challenge traditional views on the origins of Islam, offering new insights into its history through meticulous analysis and interpretation of historical texts.

Notable Works or Actions


Some of Patricia Crone's most notable works include "Meccan Trade and the Rise of Islam" (1987) and "God's Caliph: Religious Authority in the First Centuries of Islam" (1989). These publications not only showcased her command over Islamic history but also demonstrated her commitment to shedding light on often-overlooked aspects of the subject. Her research significantly impacted how scholars approach Islamic studies today.

Impact and Legacy


Patricia Crone's impact on Islamic studies is undeniable. Her work continues to influence researchers and historians worldwide, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of early Islamic history. By questioning established narratives and providing new interpretations, she paved the way for further inquiry into this period. Her legacy extends beyond her academic contributions; it also reflects her dedication to rigorous scholarship and intellectual honesty.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Patricia Crone is widely quoted and remembered due to her groundbreaking work in Islamic history. Her innovative approach, which combined meticulous analysis with a willingness to challenge prevailing views, not only expanded our understanding of early Islam but also reflected the spirit of academic inquiry she embodied throughout her career. Today, her contributions serve as a testament to the power of rigorous scholarship and its potential to reshape our perceptions of the past.

Quotes by Patricia Crone

One can be deeply influenced by people to whom one is utterly hostile.
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One can be deeply influenced by people to whom one is utterly hostile.
We also have to bear in mind that our own sense of what is plausible and implausible is severely limited by the fact that the modern world is dominated by an extremely narrow range of family arrangements. Looking in anthropology books on kinship and marriage is like opening a book on a huge variety of dead and dying languages, all victims of the inexorable homogenisation of the world that has been in progress since the dawn of civilisation.
"
We also have to bear in mind that our own sense of what is plausible and implausible is severely limited by the fact that the modern world is dominated by an extremely narrow range of family arrangements. Looking in anthropology books on kinship and marriage is like opening a book on a huge variety of dead and dying languages, all victims of the inexorable homogenisation of the world that has been in progress since the dawn of civilisation.
Since people of necessity see things from their own perspective, much of what they say adds up to comforting ideas or outright propaganda for themselves and the groups to which they belong.
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Since people of necessity see things from their own perspective, much of what they say adds up to comforting ideas or outright propaganda for themselves and the groups to which they belong.
It’s remote! It’s remote! It’s uncontaminated! It’s pure! It’s a place where we can rule out that Muhammad got his ideas from others than God!
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It’s remote! It’s remote! It’s uncontaminated! It’s pure! It’s a place where we can rule out that Muhammad got his ideas from others than God!
Reincarnation offers a better justification of evil than anything monotheism can offer, but it does so by blaming the victim and sanctifying the status quo.
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Reincarnation offers a better justification of evil than anything monotheism can offer, but it does so by blaming the victim and sanctifying the status quo.
The fact that the doctrine makes perfect sense even though Epiphanius keeps finding it incoherent suggests that he is giving a faithful account of it.
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The fact that the doctrine makes perfect sense even though Epiphanius keeps finding it incoherent suggests that he is giving a faithful account of it.
It is probably safe to say that in strongly hierarchical societies the only people to whom something approaching nationalist sentiments can be attributed in pre-modern times is the ruling elite, and then only at times.
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It is probably safe to say that in strongly hierarchical societies the only people to whom something approaching nationalist sentiments can be attributed in pre-modern times is the ruling elite, and then only at times.
ideas generate action when they are believed regardless of whether they are true or not in our opinion
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ideas generate action when they are believed regardless of whether they are true or not in our opinion
we are here confronted with an irreducible oddity about all human societies: all are strung around figments of the human imagination.
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we are here confronted with an irreducible oddity about all human societies: all are strung around figments of the human imagination.
One can be deeply influenced by people to whom one is utterly hostile
"
One can be deeply influenced by people to whom one is utterly hostile