The title under review is a brief collection of abstracts selected and translated into Russian from a comprehensive French work first published in 1697 as “Bibilotheque Orientale” [Oriental Library], offering insight into what 17th-century curiosity and intellectual pursuits attempted to explore. It reminds us of the academic climate in Europe at the time, when an urge to learn more about the Orient was gaining strength and was accompanied by efforts to acquire essential skills for improved understanding and contact. In 1692, the author was named the Royal Teacher of Oriental Languages by College de Royal de France. In the 18th century, the Oriental Library was named as the most comprehensive work to offer detailed and rich knowledge about the East.
The introduction to the present title, by Henry Laurens, helps the reader appreciate Herbelot de Molainville’s contribution and ascertain its status in the history of European scholarship on the Orient. This work is considered important for offering a unique and rare perspective for studying Eastern authors, for which it has won the admiration of many scholars. The original work appeared at a time when Europe itself was about to undergo core changes, and thus helped cast a look at Europe through the eyes of a learned scholar. It appeared at a time when some Western states were planning to send archaeological expeditions to the East.
Barthelemy D’ Herbelot de Molainville (1625-1695) was a French Oriental scholar who, after graduating from Paris University, devoted himself to the study of oriental languages. He visited Italy to converse with the oriental visitors who frequented its seaports. In 1661, he was appointed secretary and interpreter of Eastern languages to the court. A few years later he again visited Italy, when the Grand Duke Ferdinand II of Tuscany presented him with a large number of valuable Oriental manuscripts and offered him a place at his court. Herbelot, however, was recalled to France, where, in 1692, he succeeded D’Auvergne at the College de France. He died in Paris on December 8, 1695. His great work, the Oriental Library, which occupied him nearly all his life, was completed in 1697 by A. Galland. It contains citations from a number of Oriental manuscripts, in particular the immense Arabic Dictionary of Hadji Khalfah.
The Oriental Library is described by the author as “a compendium on everything required to know about the people of the Orient; their history, their legends and traditions; their religions and sects; politics and governments; arts and sciences and theology; morals and etiquettes; wars and revolutions; myths and magic; ethics, medicine, mathematics, natural history, physics, chronology, geography, astronomical observations, grammar and rhetoric, life and contribution of their holy men, scholars, philosophers, historians, and poets” (p. 11). The original French work was reprinted in Maastricht (1776) and the Hague (4 vols., 1777-1799). The latter edition is enriched with the contributions of the Dutch orientalist Johann Jakob Reiske Schultens (1716-1774); a supplement was provided by Visdelow and Galland. Herbelot’s other works, none of which have been published, comprise Oriental Anthology and Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Latin Dictionary.
The present volume highlights some important names related to the Oriental Library in addition to Herbelot de Molainville, the major contributor, and Galland, who supported the project’s completion and publication, as well as subsequent reprints. The names of Oriental scholars frequently quoted there are also worth mentioning. It has benefited immensely from the Arabic Dictionary of Hadji Khalfah of Istanbul, and some of its portions were abridged in the translation. The Oriental Library also contains the substance of a vast number of other Persian compilations and manuscripts belonging to Mohammed bin Khawandshah bin Mahmud, commonly called Mirkhwand, more familiar to Europeans under the name of Mirkhond (1433-1498), and his grandson Khondamir, a Persian author, whose full name was Ghiyasud din Muhammad bin Humamud din.
A few words on the sources (and their compilers) cited by Herbelot de Molainville. Extensive world histories were written during the reign of Tamerlane’s successors. A new epoch of Persian historical writing is associated with the adoption of a new style. The present selection has several entries on one of the most famous works of Persian historical literature, i.e., “Zafarnama” by Sharafuddin Ali Yezdi (referred to incorrectly as Dzhafer (P. 48)). Such works appeared since Timur had some feeling for the culture, and among other things he had a preference for history. Indeed, his military campaigns were accompanied by Turkish and Persian scribes assigned to record all important events. These reports were later revised by practiced stylists.^[1]
It is thanks to the Timurides’ patronage of such works that the Persian language gained a firm footing in India following the establishment of the Moghul Empire. An important historian among them is Mohammed bin Khawandshah bin Mahmud. From his early youth he devoted himself to historical studies and literature. In Herat, he gained the favor of that famous patron of letters, Mir Alisher Navai (1440-1501), who served his old schoolfellow, the reigning sultan Husain – who as the last of the Timurides in Persia ascended the throne of Herat in 1468. At the request of Mir Alisher, himself a distinguished statesman and writer, Mirkhond began in about 1474 his great work on universal history, Rauzat-ussafa fi sirat-ulanbia wal muluk wal khulafa [Garden of Purity on the Biography of Prophets, Kings and Caliphs]. Despite no particular attempt at a critical examination of historical traditions, and a flowery style, Mirkhond’s Rauzat remains one of the most marvelous achievements in literature. It comprises seven large volumes with a geographical appendix, although the seventh volume, the history of the sultan Husain (1438-1505), together with a short account of some later events up to 1523, was probably completed by his grandson, the historian Khondamir (1475-1534).^[2]
The history is based on a large number of Persian and Arabic works, some mentioned in the preface, others in the text. It enjoyed exceptional popularity in the Turco-Iranian regions and had several translations into Turkish. It was widely used by European historians from the 17th century and served as a major source on medieval Iran until the 19th century.^[3]
Habibu-s Siyar by Khondamir is a general history of the world. Like other works of its kind, it drew upon the rich Persian historical tradition. Its author is Ghiyasud din Muhammad bin Humamud din. He was born in Herat in 1475. He served as a judge to the court, under Sultan Badi’uz Zaman, the last of the Timurid rulers. After Khurasan fell to the Uzbeks he retired to Basht in Georgia, where he wrote many of his works. In 1528-1529, he traveled to India and met the first Moghul emperor, Babar, at Agra. He served Babar, and accompanied him on many of his expeditions. He died in Gujarat in 1534-1535.
Khondamir commenced writing the Habibu-s Siyar in 1521 at the request of Muhammad al Husaini. This narrative covers events up to 930 H. (1523-1524), but it may not have been finished until some years later. Each volume of this work is divided into four sections with an epilogue containing geographical information. An interesting feature of the composition of the Habibu-s Siyar is the great number of biographies at the end of the treatment of each major historical period. This innovation in Persian historiography was later imitated by the writers of the Safawid period. The historical value of Habibu-s Siyar is enhanced by the fact that the author was a close witness and sometimes even a participant of such decisive developments as the breakdown of Timurid power in Central Asia and Eastern Iran under the impact of the Uzbek invasion and the conquest of Khurasan by the Safawids. His account of Babur’s early life is one of best sources on the early life of the Moghul king.^[4]
Herbelot de Molainville’s original work was the culmination of fifty years of painstaking work comprising 8,600 entries spread over 2,604 pages in four volumes. The present selection, however, offers only 62 of the entries directly related to historical peoples and places of primarily Uzbek history, spread on 98 pages. Most topics do not appear on the pages referred to in the table of contents. Somewhat more careful proofreading of the translation could have helped much in citing Arabic names correctly. For example, on page 73, Navai’s book Bedae-al-Wasat is mentioned as Bedae-alwat, whereas Fawaid-al-kibar is noted as Fawaid Akbar.^[5]
The text of the Oriental Library covers two spheres – science and literature – in the articles offering biographical, bibliographical, and geographical information. Thus one can find here entries on famous oriental authors, along with lists of their works. The present 98-page selection offers entries on Genghis Khan (pp. 50-61), Navai (p. 73), and Bokhari (pp. 42-45.). When it deals with certain historical figures, an entry usually includes a brief chronology and description of their personal character; it also mentions family background and heirs and finally provides a bibliography centered on that person. Still one is surprised not to find a separate entry on Tamerlane, though his victories are mentioned in the entry “Zafarnama.”
In the same manner, one can find names of cities, their geographical locations with latitude and altitude coordinates, and references to historical information. See, for instance, entries on Bokhara (pp. 40-42); Schahrokh, or present day Khojand (pp. 80-83); Otrar (p. 74) and Turkestan (pp. 95-97). Conspicuously missing is an entry on Samarkand. The present selection also offers entries on Tatar, Turk, Turkestani, Turkmen, and Uzbek nations.
This publication has a largely symbolic value, for it was designed to commemorate a historic contribution and to mark the establishment of scholarly exchanges between French and Central Asian academics. In the preface, Vincent Fourniau points out that Central Asia remains a region not fully accessed or explored by Europeans; this situation is aggravated further by the fact that only few know about similar works in Central Asia. With the emergence of a new generation of French and other European researchers on Central Asia, the rising need to bring these people closer has made it necessary to have a greater exchange of knowledge and ideas. This volume would have enriched its academic value had the project attracted regional scholars to offer their impressions and evaluations about French and European contributions and their impact toward understanding Central Asia.