Dr Lucy Deacon explores the history of the substantial fragment of Jāmiʿ al-tawārīkh, by Rashīd al-Dīn (vizier to the Ilkhanids), held by the University of Edinburgh's Heritage Collections (Or Ms 20). Dating to the early 14th century CE, it is a richly illustrated work of world history. Highly likely to have been produced in Rashīd al-Dīn's scriptorium in Tabriz, it is one of only four extant fragments of this work that date to the author’s lifetime. Comprising 151 folios, Or Ms 20 is the largest surviving fragment of the Arabic rendition of the work dating to this period. The seventy paintings contained within it are believed to be among the best-preserved examples from Rashīd al-Dīn’s atelier. So, how did it come to be in Edinburgh?

This video was made in collaboration with Khamseen: Islamic Art History Online

Further information on this manuscript and high resolution images can be found in its online catalogue entry: Or MS 20