Konrad Hirschler at ARIC, AUC

Professor Konrad Hirschler (Professor for Middle Eastern History, Universität Hamburg, Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures / Cluster of Excellence Understanding Written Artefacts) was the Bayard Dodge Visiting Professor for this academic year. He visited the ARIC Department in November and delivered two public lectures at Oriental Hall, Tahrir Square Campus. Under the title “Manuscripts and Materiality: Reflections on Where our Field Stands” the first lecture explored the history of approaching manuscripts as material objects, tracing the origins of the approach to Arab, especially Syrian and Egyptian scholars, of the 1950s and 1960s. Professor Hirschler went on to explore the recent scientific advances in this field which allow more sophisticated analyses of manuscripts on parchment and paper, while also highlighting the limitations and challenges of using the latest scientific technologies. The second lecture titled “Crusaders and Books: What Happened to the Legendary Banu Ammar Library of Tripoli?” explored various medieval narratives about the Bannu Ammar library and its fate during the period of the Crusades. Professor Hirschler also shared with the audience an extremely interesting find  that he was able to locate in an Istanbul library. To watch a recording of this public lecture check the HUSS YouTube channel. 

Finally, Professor Hirschler also led a special methodology workshop for ARIC and AUC graduate students where he introduced the database that his research group has developed as well as ways of using it for various research projects.