A Glimpse at the Travelogues of Baghdad

Iman Al-Attar

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English

Routledge
27 May 2024

Middle Eastern history; Industrial chemistry; Chemical engineering; Materials science

Series: Routledge Focus on Literature

The history of Baghdad in the 18th and 19th centuries had predominantly been written by two groups. The first group is Baghdadi scholars, and the second group is travellers. These two resources complement each other; while the literature of Baghdadi scholars provides insights from inside, travelogues provide observations from outside. By implementing this interlocking method of investigation, we can reach a comprehensive understanding of the history of Baghdad. Having investigated some sources from inside in my previous book; Baghdad: an urban history through the lens of literature, the focus of this book is on travel literature. The history of travelogues throughout different periods of Baghdad’s history is highlighted, with a particular focus on 18th and 19th century travelogues. This period was a critical epoch of change, not just in Baghdad, but across the world. Nevertheless, this book does not intend to provide a documentary of the travellers who visited Baghdad. It is rather an analytical study of the colonial literature in relation to the historiography of Baghdad.

By: Iman Al-Attar
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
Weight: 230g
ISBN: 9781032188119
ISBN 10: 1032188111
Series: Routledge Focus on Literature
Pages: 114
Publication Date: 27 May 2024
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Contents Illustrations v Introduction 1 Author’s note 4 The context of travel writing 5 Baghdad and the Ottoman Empire 9 One name and multiple locations 9 A unique city with a mysterious history 11 The Ottoman Empire 15 The perception of Ottoman cities in historiography 16 The Mamluk’s ruling of Baghdad 20 Travelogues and history Representation 29 Travelogues methods and attitudes 29 Travelogues and Orientalism 33 Travelogues and Islamic studies 36 Travelogues and heritage understanding 43 Diverse travelers before the 18th Century 46 Regional travelers 46 European travelers 50 Europeans Involvement in the 18th Century 53 Mapping Efforts of Carsten Niebuhr 54 The Novels of Guillaume Antoine Olivier 60 British Intervention Intensifies 66 The Arabian Nights 67 Political focus of Claudius Rich 69 Lifestyle conditions by Mary Rich 73 City descriptions by James Silk Buckingham 76 Colonial interests in Heude’s writings 88 Summary 94 Endnotes 98 Bibliography Index

Iman Al-Attar is an Iraqi architect, historian and a doctor in philosophy and urban history. She is currently doing research on topics including urban history, Islamic architecture, cultural issues and Baghdad. In 2018 she published her first book; Baghdad: an urban history through the lens of literature, which examines the writings of some local scholars who stayed in Baghdad in the 18th and 19th centuries.