The Afterlife of a Medieval Persian Text: The Qalandar-nama of Abdullah Ansari
Timur Khan explores the Qalandar-nama, a medieval Persian text attributed to Abdullah Ansari, and the challenges of tracing its manuscripts and authorship.
Music and Musicians in the Medieval Persianate World
Explore how medieval Persian musicians blended art, theory, and performance through two remarkable texts that reveal the sounds and social world of music.
Sana’i’s Sharp-Tongued Portrait of 12th-Century Ghaznavid Society
Discover how the Persian poet Sana’i captured the splendour and scandals of the Ghaznavid Empire. His verses celebrate kings and mystics yet mercilessly lampoon scholars, courtiers, and even the city itself.