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New collection available now: Europe and the Ottoman World

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The award-winning Arcadian Library Online enables easy exploration of the rich holdings of the Arcadian Library, revealing the shared cultural heritage of Europe and the Middle East across the course of a millennium. Images are displayed in high resolution, full colour and include bindings, clasps and page edges. Choose between an English or Arabic interface and search in either language. 

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History of Science and Medicine

The History of Science and Medicine collection brings together one of the world’s most important and unique collections of books and manuscripts showcasing the contribution of early Arab and Persian scientists, doctors and thinkers; their translation, reception and influence in Europe and their lasting influence on the development of Western scientific and medical knowledge.


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Europe and the Ottoman World

The new collection brings together a fascinating archive of rare and important diplomatic correspondences, treaties and accounts of ambassadorial missions, many of which are being made available publicly for the first time. Originating from between 1475 and 1877, the collection charts and illustrates the complex relationships between the Ottoman Empire and European powers from the golden age of the Empire's expansion and flourishing through to the era of its decline.

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Rhazes de Variolis et Morbillis

History of Science and Medicine

Rhazes (860-932), a great clinician, ranks with Hippocrates, Aretaeus, and Sydenham as one of the original portrayers of disease. His description of smallpox and measles is the first authentic account in literature, a classic text, preserved in the original Arabic, with parallel Latin translation...

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James I letter to Osman II

Europe and the Ottoman World

This letter announces the appointment of Sir Thomas Roe as ambassador and the recall of Sir John Eyre naming the bearer of the letter, John Chapman, as the 'Caya' (representative) of James I, King of England, until Roe's arrival, also stressing the importance of the appointment for the trade existing between England and the Ottoman Empire.

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Ibn Baklarish - Book of Simple Medicines

History of Science and Medicine

Kitab al-Musta‘ini, or Kitab al-adwiyah al-mufradah (Book of Simples), is a treatise on medical remedies and drugs which draws on the learning of earlier Arab scholars such as Ibn Butlan,Al-Kindi and Al-Biruni, as well as classical Greek authors such as Galen, Dioscorides, Aristotle and Hippocrates.

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Jean Du Bellay - Exemplaria literarum quibus & christianissimus Galliarum Rex Franciscus

Europe and the Ottoman World

First French edition: France's apology of its controversial Franco-Turkish alliance.


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Alfraganus - Brevis Astronomo

History of Science and Medicine

This is a very rare first edition of Farghānī’s best known and most influential work, on Ptolemaic astronomy, dated 3 September 1493. The text is descriptive and non-mathematical, which, along with its clear and well-organised presentation, likely contributed to the text’s popularity.

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Tracé et construction du chemin de fer de Constantinople

Europe and the Ottoman World

Original contract and plan for the construction of a railway from Istanbul through the Balkans, and signed by the Sultan Abdülmecit and French Minister of Foreign Affairs Édouard Antoine de Thouvenel.

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Kitāb al-milāl wa al-duwal

History of Science and Medicine

Fragments from the Kitāb al-milāl wa al-duwal, manuscript, 10th century. North Africa. The famous astrologer Abū Ma`shar (d. 886) named his book Kitāb al-Milal wal-Duwal, The Book of Religious Communities and Dynasties.

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Discorso notabile à favore di N.S Pio IIII

Europe and the Ottoman World

An exhortation to the Pope to enlist the help of various European states for a major aggressive offensive against the Turks. Drawing on the recent examples halting Turkish expansion westward, he rallies the Christian Powers to launch a collateral attack on the Turks.

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Averroes - Expositio prologi magni Averrois

History of Science and Medicine

Extremely rare first edition of Lignamine’s commentary on Averroes’ Aristotelian philosophy of science. Lignamine was a Professor of Philosophy and medicine at the University of Padua.

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Portuguese propaganda pamphlets

Europe and the Ottoman World

A series of eighteen pamphlet newsletters concerning the conflict between the Holy League and the Turks. First and only edition of this complete, and very rare, set of newsletters detailing two years of conflict between the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Turks.