A Glimpse at the Travelogues of Baghdad (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 the 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 had 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 centuries' 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"-- Provided by publisher This book provides analytical study of the colonial literature of Baghdad in relation to its historiography. The history of travelogues throughout different periods of Baghdad’s history is highlighted, with a specific focus on 18th and 19th centuries’ tr Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Author’s Note 11 Introduction 12 Chapter 1 The Context of Travel Writing 16 Chapter 2 Baghdad and the Ottoman Empire 21 One Name and Multiple Locations 21 A Unique City with a Mysterious History 23 The Ottoman Empire 25 The Perception of Ottoman Cities in Historiography 28 The Mamluks’ Rule of Baghdad 31 Chapter 3 Travelogues and History Representation 44 Travelogues’ Methods and Attitudes 44 Travelogues and Orientalism 47 Travelogues and Islamic Studies 51 Travelogues and Heritage Understanding 57 Chapter 4 Diverse Travellers before the 18th Century 62 Regional Travellers 62 European Travellers 65 Chapter 5 European Involvement in the 18th Century 69 Mapping Efforts of Carsten Niebuhr 70 The Novels of Guillaume Antoine Olivier 75 Chapter 6 British Intervention Intensifies 82 The Arabian Nights 83 Political Focus of Claudius Rich 85 Lifestyle Conditions by Mary Rich 88 City Descriptions by James Silk Buckingham 91 Colonial Interests in Heude’s Writings 102 Chapter 7 Summary 112 Bibliography 116 Index 122 history,of,Baghdad;,travelogues;,British,intervention;,Ottoman,Empire;,historiography;,Mamluk’s,rule;,Middle,Eastern,cities history of Baghdad,travelogues,British intervention,Ottoman Empire,historiography,Mamluk’s rule,Middle Eastern cities 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.