Majd Al-D?n Al-F?r?z?b?d? (1329-1415): A Polymath on the Eve of the Early Modern Period (Islamic History and Civilization)

In Majd al-Din al-Firuzabadi (1329-1415): A Polymath on the Eve of the Early Modern Period, Vivian Strotmann provides a detailed reconstruction of the famous lexicographer’s and travelling scholar’s life and works. The ‘author of the Qamus al-muhit’ is widely known for his Arabic lexicon, which overshadows the astounding breadth of his writing. This polymathic aspect is elucidated through detailed reconstruction of al-Firuzabadi’s corpus, including examination of works that were considered lost and misapprehensions concerning ascriptions of authorship. Through minute analysis of biographical sources, the book shows al-Firuzabadi’s development as a scholar, his central role in the defence of Ibn al-‘Arabi’s teachings and thereby his importance as a powerful intellectual in Timurid times and for developments during the Early Modern Period.