Formal Types and Paleographical Features of Arabic Documents (summer term 2021)

Collections worldwide hold very high number of Arabic documents, yet do now know how to catalogue them best. This webclass provides a training in recognizing formal types of Arabic documents and their paleographical features to catalogue them and thus make them accessible for further research. We will mostly use the new tools of the Arabic Papyrology Database (www.naher-osten.lmu.de/apd) available from March 2021.

General Introduction

• Grohmann, Adolf. 1952. From the World of Arabic Papyri. Cairo.
• Khan, Geoffrey. 1992. Arabic Papyri: Selected Material from the Khalili Collection. Studies in the Khalili Collection, vol. 1. Oxford.
• Sijpesteijn, Petra M. 2008. "Palaeography". In Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics 3: 513–524.
• Sijpesteijn, Petra M. 2009. "Arabic Papyrology." In Oxford Handbook of Papyrology, ed. Roger Bagnall. Oxford, 452–472.

Further Readings

• Grob, Eva M. 2010. Documentary Arabic Private and Business Letters on Papyrus: Form and Function, Content and Context. Archiv für Papyrusforschung und verwandte Gebiete, Beihefte 29. Berlin.
• Grob, Eva M. 2013. "A Catalogue of Dating Criteria for Undated Arabic Papyri with 'Cursive' Features” In Documents et histoire: Islam, VIIe - XVIe siècle; actes des premières journées d'étude internationales École Pratique des Hautes Études, IVe Section Musée du Louvre, Département des Arts de l'Islam, Paris 16 et 17 mai 2008, ed. Anne Regourd. École Pratique des Hautes Études, IVe Section, Sciences Historiques et Philologiques II. Hautes études orientales – Moyen et Proche-Orient, vol. 5/51. Geneva: 123–143.
• Kaplony, Andreas. 2018. "Comparing Qurʾānic Suras with Pre-800 Documents: With an Appendix on Subtypes of Pre 800 Kitāb Documents". In Der Islam 95: 312–366.
• Khan, Geoffrey. 1990. "The Historical Development of the Structure of Medieval Arabic Petitions". In Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 53: 8–30.
• Khan, Geoffrey. 2013. "The Development of Early Arabic Documentary Script". In Writings and Writing from Another World and Another Era (Festschrift J.J. Witkam), ed. Robert M. Kerr and Thomas Milo. Cambridge, 229–247.

This is an on-line webclass. Scans of documents will be made accessible in advance. Communication will be in English.

Students need a computer for downloading, internet access, and a headset. Technical problems arising during the semester that prevent students from attending the class are the students’ own responsibility; therefore, missed classes will not be substituted. However, if a technical event prevents all students from participating, the class will be substituted. New participants will have a personal preparatory meeting to set up technical requirements.

The class is open to MA and PhD students in Arabic and in Near Eastern Studies; scholars interested in Arabic documents; persons in charge of Arabic manuscript and document collections, etc. 250 Euro or an equivalent amount of working time. Fees are expected to be paid before the semester starts. No fees for students of Near and Middle Eastern Studies at LMU Munich, Universität Bonn, Universität Hamburg, and New York University.

A certificate of participation will be given if students have attended at least twelve meetings and if they have met the expectations as defined at the beginning of the semester. 

To register and for further information, please send an informal message to e.garosi91[at]gmail.com. Give name, academic affiliation, current position and interest. Register until Mar. 29, 2021. The webclass usually fills up quickly.