1- Did the Arabs have historical writing, or an idea of history before Islam . a- The Arabs of Northern and central Arabia b- The Arabs of South Arabia 2- The beginning of historical writing and the role of Islam in its rise:- a- The school of Medina – Maghazi and Siyar: beginning and development. (Urwa b. al- Zubair to Ibn Sa'ad) b- The school of Kufa and Basra: The Ikhbaris –Abu Mikhnaf to al-Madaini The writers of Ansab and Their role. The linguists and their participation in history writing. 3- The great historians of the third century: Khalifa b. Khayyat; Ibn Qutaibe; al-Dinawari, al-Ya'qubi, al- Baladhuri; al-Tabari