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Leo Africanus Describes the Region of Sous in Morocco
Of the region of Sous. Now comes the region of Sus to be considered of, being situated beyond [the] Atlas, over against the territorie of Hea, that is to say, in the extreme part of Africa. Westward it beginneth from the Ocean sea, and southward from…
Tags: Africa, Al-Hasan al-Wazzaz al-Fasi, books, cities, England, exploration, geography, history, Islam, Leo Africanus, migration, Morocco, printing, Sahara, West Africa
The Arts of the Book and Miniature Painting
This brief video describes the Islamic arts of the book and book illustration in the form of miniature painting. Related primary resource: Ibn al-Nadim on the Transmission and Authorization of Books, The Qur'an on Paradise (image).
The Arts of Trade and Travel
The obligation to make the pilgrimage (known as the hajj) to Mecca, combined with the tradition of global trade in Muslim societies, makes international travel important in the lives of many Muslims. This brief video highlights the arts associated…
Calligraphy
This brief video describes the arts of Islamic calligraphy, the artistic practice of handwriting based on the Arabic script. Related primary sources: The Qur'an on Paradise,Ibn al-Nadim on the Transmission and Authorization of Books.
Ibn al-Nadim on the Transmission and Authorization of Books
He began dictation of this book, Kitab al-yaqut (The Book of the Gem) on Thursday, 29 Muharram in the year 326 (December 6, 937) in the principal mosque of Abu Ja’far’s city (Baghdad), from memory, without any books or notes, and he…
Tags: Arabic, books, calligraphy, Fihrist, Ibn Nadim, Islamic arts, libraries, literature, material culture, paper