Lunch-time seminar series

On October 21, 2025, we are pleased to invite you to a public seminar with Prof. Lucia Raggetti entitle Pride, Ethnicity & Science in the Arab-Islamic Middle Ages.

Prof. Raggetti will examine cultural and identity dynamics within the ’Umma following the Islamic expansion, with a particular focus on the Abbasid period.

The seminar will explore the role of ethnic difference in erudite literature and scientific-technical works, with reference to ancient theories of climates and physiognomy as applied in medical and commercial contexts. Through close analysis of medieval Arabic sources and comparative materials, the event aims to illustrate the complexity of cultural interactions during the Abbasid era and to reflect on their contemporary resonances.

The seminar will offer concrete insights for scholars and students interested in questions of identity, knowledge, and representation in the medieval Islamic world, fostering critical reflections that connect historical inquiry with present-day debates.

The seminar will take place in Sala Mondolfo, Via Zamboni 38, Bologna.

The seminar will be held in Italian.
Attendance is free and open to the public; no registration is required.