The Birmingham Qur'an: Its Journey from the Islamic Heartlands (FutureLearn)

Learn how to identify features of Qur’an manuscripts and how they influenced the arts of the book in Islamic manuscript culture. You will also learn more about the Mingana collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts and their relevance to the 21st century.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1: The Journey of the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript

How the radiocarbon dating of the manuscript became a world-wide news sensation

The significance of the dating

The origins of the manuscript: where was it produced?

The journey of the manuscript from the Islamic heartlands to the University of Birmingham

Week 2: The Qur’an and the Arts of the Book

How the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript relates to the development of the Arabic written tradition

Qur’an manuscripts and Arabic calligraphy

The Arts of Qur’an manuscripts and Islamic manuscript culture

Week 3: Research & preservation of manuscripts

Using radiocarbon dating to date manuscripts

Modern technology in the research and analysis of historic manuscripts

Techniques and preservation methods in the conservation and care of historic manuscripts

The value of primary historic sources as a valuable resource for research

Week 4: The Birmingham Qur’an and other historic manuscripts of the Mingana collection

The Islamic Arabic & Persian manuscripts in the Mingana collection held in the Cadbury Research Library

The Mingana collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts as a collection of international importance

The relevance of the Birmingham Qur’an and other manuscripts to the contemporary world: local communities, researchers and academics

The ethics of collecting from different cultures

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

- Explore and understand the historic and cultural significance of the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript dating

- Develop an appreciation of the religious, social and community importance of the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript

- Engage with the journey of the Birmingham Qur’an from the Islamic heartlands to Birmingham University

- Investigate the features of the Birmingham Qur'an manuscript and understand how they relate to the Arabic written tradition

- Demonstrate an ability to trace developments in Arabic script, calligraphy and the decorative arts used in Qur'anic manuscripts

- Assess the benefits to research through consulting primary source materials

- Explore and appreciate the size, variety and importance of the Mingana collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts

- Debate the morals and ethics of western collecting from other cultures

-Evaluate and consider the relevance of historic manuscripts to the contemporary world

- Reflect on how radiocarbon dating and modern technology can be used to date and analyse manuscripts

- Compare and identify techniques and preservation methods used to care for historic manuscripts