Arabic codicology: The Islamic Manuscript Heritage in the El Escorial Collection

About

The course “Arabic codicology: The Islamic Manuscript Heritage in the El Escorial Collection” aims
at providing the students with the basic codicological knowledge and the research procedures they
will need when studying and analyzing Arabic manuscripts, as well as at familiarizing them with the
libraries of the Arabic Islamic world in Medieval and Modern times, more especially that which
belonged to the Moroccan sultan Muley Zaydân. To achieve that, the design of the course programme
allows the students to apply the knowledge they acquire with the manuscripts. The Royal Library of
the El Escorial Monastery houses the most important collection of Arabic manuscripts in Spain, one of
the most interesting ones in Europe. Its proximity to the venue for the summer courses makes this
particularly valuable as far as the aims of this course are concerned since practical training will take
place there, owing to the collaboration which has been set up with the Library. Actual manuscripts of
the collection will be examined.

Course leader

Dr. Nuria Martínez de Castilla Muñoz - Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Course aim

The course will be taught by specialists of Arabic manuscripts: François Déroche, Adam Gacek and
Nuria Martínez de Castilla, who will meet again to deliver a course of this kind. The course provides a
global overview of the field, thus proving a groundbreaking programme in the frame of Arabic
codicological studies, mainly due to its practical approach and to the quality and diversity of the
examples which will be examined during the course. It intends to answer to the growing interest
among scholars and professionals, as well as researchers, university students and bibliophiles with
the international stance required by Arabic codicological studies.

Fee info