14149
Advanced Seminar
Roads, Worlds, Words: Arabic Travel Literature in Historical Context
Isabel Toral-Niehoff
Additional information / Pre-requisites
"Good English skills are necessary for reading academic literature.
- Basic knowledge of Arabic literary history is an advantage.
- Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage but not necessary, as the texts will (also) be read in translation.
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Comments
Arab travel literature offers fascinating insights into the mobility, world perception, and cultural self-identification of pre-modern Arab authors. In this course, we will examine classic travelogues from the Islamic-Arab cultural sphere—from pilgrimages and diplomatic missions to voyages of discovery and educational journeys. Key questions include: - What images do Arab travelers create of their own culture and of foreign cultures? How do observation, narrative, and cultural interpretation interconnect? What functions does travel literature fulfill in different historical contexts (e.g., religious, political, scientific)? And how does the genre relate to autobiographical and fictional texts? close
Suggested reading
"Newman DL. Arabic Travel Writing. In: Das N, Youngs T, eds. The Cambridge History of Travel Writing. Cambridge University Press; 2019:143-158.
Winet, Monika. 2006. “‘Suche das Wissen, auch wenn es in China Wäre’. Reisende und Reiseberichte in der Arabischen Literatur.” In Mensch Und Raum von Der Antike Bis Zur Gegenwart, 150–68. München, Leipzig: K.G. Saur
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16 Class schedule
Regular appointments
Tue, 2025-10-14 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-10-21 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-10-28 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-11-04 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-11-11 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-11-18 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-11-25 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-12-02 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-12-09 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2025-12-16 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2026-01-06 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2026-01-13 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2026-01-20 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2026-01-27 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2026-02-03 10:00 - 12:00
Tue, 2026-02-10 10:00 - 12:00