ქრისტიანების სტატუსი ადრეულ ისლამში (არაბული დაცვის სიგელები)

The dissertation is the first monographic study in Georgian historiography, which, based on various Arabic sources and scientific literature, discusses and analyzes the socio-economic, cultural, and legal status of Christians in the early Islamic period. It does so both, through the prism of international relations and regional politics, as well from the local perspective. The paper discusses the Arab protection treaties, the issue of their authenticity, and reveals the main features in relations to the status of Christians.
The scientific novelty of the dissertation is the translation and commentary of the thirty-six treaties of peace and security written in Arabic language and negotiated with non-Muslims during the period of Muhammad and the Rashidun Caliphate. Some of them are relatively unknown and we are bringing them into the scientific circulation for the first time. These treaties were the first documents of the sort, through which the submission of Christians to the newly formed Muslim political-military administration were established, and the rights and responsibilities of both parties were defined. The Muslims’ practice to regulate relations with the population professing Christianity, during the times of war and peace, and its historical-legal realities are important to this day, particularly so when the problem of East-West relations and the Muslim-Christian dialogue is resurfacing yet again.
The concluding part of the dissertation summarizes the political and socio-economic issues discussed in the main body of the paper.