Beyond orientalism : Ahmad ibn Qâsim al-Hajarî between Europe and North Africa

The first in-depth study of the collaborative intellectual exchange between the European and the Arabic Republics of Letters. Beyond Orientalism reformulates our understanding of the early modern Mediterranean through the remarkable life and career of Moroccan polymath Ahmad Ibn Qâsim al-Hajarî (ca. 1570-1641). By showing Hajarî’s active engagement with some of the most prominent European Orientalists of his time, Oumelbanine Zhiri makes the case for the existence of an Arabic Republic of Letters that operated in parallel to its European counterpart. A major corrective to the long-held view of Orientalism that accords agency only to Europeans, Beyond Orientalism emphasizes the active role played by Hajarî and other “Orientals” inside and outside of Europe in some of the most significant intellectual movements of the age. Zhiri explores the multiple interactions between these two networks of intellectuals, decentering Europe to reveal how Hajarî worked collaboratively to circulate knowledge among Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The first in-depth study of the collaborative intellectualexchange between the European and the Arabic Republics ofLetters. Beyond Orientalism reformulates ourunderstanding of the early modern Mediterranean through theremarkable life and career of Moroccan polymath Ahmad Ibn Qâsimal-Hajarî (ca. 1570-1641). By showing Hajarî's active engagementwith some of the most prominent European Orientalists of his time,Oumelbanine Zhiri makes the case for the existence of an ArabicRepublic of Letters that operated in parallel to its Europeancounterpart. A major corrective to the long-held view ofOrientalism that accords agency only to Europeans, BeyondOrientalism emphasizes the active role played by Hajarî andother "Orientals" inside and outside of Europe in some of the mostsignificant intellectual movements of the age. Zhiri explores themultiple interactions between these two networks of intellectuals,decentering Europe to reveal how Hajarî worked collaboratively tocirculate knowledge among Europe, North Africa, and the MiddleEast "This book focuses on Ahmad Ibn Qâsim al-Hajarî (ca. 1570-ca. 1641), a Morisco who fled Spain where this minority of Muslim origins was persecuted. He led a successful career in North Africa, as a secretary to several Sultans in Morocco, and as a prolific translator and writer. He produced autobiographical texts, and translations between Spanish and Arabic, which attest to the important role he played in the cultural, diplomatic, and scientific connections between Europe and North Africa during the early modern period. This book situates his work within several contexts: the development of early modern Orientalism, the intellectual life of the Maghreb, and the history of technological circulation in the Western Mediterranean"-- Provided by publisher