Medieval Knowledge in Modern Reading: A Fifteenth-Century Arabic Encyclopaedia of omni re scibili (original) (raw)

The paper explores the fifteenth-century Arabic encyclopaedia al-Musta{raf, created by Baha' al-Ibsihi, within the context of Arabic literature's historical and cultural development. It examines the compilation's role as a significant literary work during a period characterized by perceived cultural decline, while highlighting its unique position in genre classification as an adab-encyclopaedia. By situating al-Musta{raf against the backdrop of its predecessors and the broader literary landscape, this analysis sheds light on its contribution to the continuity of Arabic knowledge and the interplay between historical events and literary expression.