The Abbasid Caliph and His People: A View From the Centre

This talk explores the conventional representations of the Abbasid dynasty, highlighting its perceived trajectory from its rise in the mid-eighth century to its decline in the tenth century. Letizia Osti, Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature a the University of Milan, is an expert on the period; she’ll examine historical and literary sources from the mid-tenth century, elucidating the role and influence of the Abbasid Caliph and Baghdad during a pivotal era of political and cultural transformation.