About: Book of Main Points

The Book of Main Points is a chronicle text about the world's history from the creation of the world to the late seventh century. It was written in the 680s, and was authored by the monk John of Fenek at the request of the abbot of East Syrian monastery of John Kāmul. The text is regarded as an important historical source for understanding the military and political events of the 680s and understanding the rise of Islam. John of Fenek is an eyewitness to many of the events occurring in his work. He also presents an East Syrian theological response to the Islamic conquest and documents the rise of Christian apocalyptic expectations that define Syriac writings of the late seventh century.